17 Jul, 2008: IP Rights In Standards Impede Competition, Disadvantage Developing Countries (IP-Watch)
"Standards and intellectual property rights appear to be worlds apart and to respond to opposite purposes, according to a recent panel of legal and policy experts. While standards are established to ensure compatibility in technology to the advantage of all users at national, regional or international levels, intellectual property rights are meant to provide an exclusive use, reward innovation, and ...

30 Jun, 2008: [no title]
The issue of IPRs in technical standards is increasingly seen to be contentious since they at times lead to anticompetitive situations affecting markets and international trade. While standards are adopted internationally and nationally by different standard setting organisations, they are implemented cross border. This has provoked a great deal of serious thought and syllogism over anticompetitive effects created due to ...

16 Jun, 2008: Civil Society & Organized Labour Seoul Declaration (OECD Ministerial in Korea)
Framework for the Future of the Internet Economy. Freedom of Expression. Protection of Privacy and Transparency. Consumer Protection. Promotion of Access to Knowledge. Internet Governance. Promotion of Open Standards. Balanced Intellectual Property Policies. Internet Governance. ...

18 Mar, 2008: Public-Interest Principles for the Networked Communications Environment
Why is Free Expression Important in an Information Society? The UK-based "Freedom of Expression Project" posted "Public Interest Principles for the Networked Communications Environment". The draft document provides useful analysis on the importance of freedom of expression, open standards, interoperability, respect for privacy, and balanced copyright law as key policy goals for a healthy and robust information society. ...

30 Jan, 2008: French Police Move to Open Source
The French paramilitary police force said Wednesday it is ditching Microsoft for the free Linux operating system, becoming one of the biggest administrations in the world to make the break. The move completes the gendarmerie's severance from Microsoft which began in 2005 when it moved to open sourcing for office applications such as word processing. It switched to open ...

24 Jan, 2008: Why Does ‘Openness’ Matter for ICT?
IT is increasingly embedded into our daily lives and continues to meld with traditional industries and applications such as healthcare, transportation, media, security, and telecommunications. Battles over non-interoperability and consumer access due to a lack of open IT standards are popping up in unexpected places. The automotive repair industry provides a good example of this: consumers and non-dealer-owned repair shops are fighting for access to technical ...

23 May, 2007: A2K@IGF Dynamic Coalition Statement at IGF Open Consultation
I speak on behalf of the A2K@IGF Dynamic Coalition, who’s purpose is to support and expand Access to Knowledge and promote freedom of expression in the realm of information and communication technology. Our coalition is particularly concerned with the impact that unbalanced intellectual property rights have on the Internet as a tool of free expression, innovation, education, and development. ...

16 May, 2007: IGF Dynamic Coalition on Open Standards (DCOS) Contribution for Rio Summit
DCOS was created at the Athens Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in November 2006. Our mission is to provide government policy makers and other stakeholders with useful tools to make informed decisions to preserve the current open architecture of the Internet and the World Wide Web, which together provide a knowledge ecosystems that has profoundly shaped the multiplier effect of global ...

1 May, 2007: IGF Dynamic Coalition on Open Standards (DCOS) Meeting on 9-10 July 2007 in Geneva
The UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Dynamic Coalition on Open Standards (DCOS) will meeting on 9-10 July 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland.

15 Feb, 2007: Malaysian Govt Preliminary Decision to Accept Open Document Format (Self)
Malaysia's standards body SIRIM voted to propose ODF as a country standard, following the recognition in May by ISO of ODF as an international standard. After a public comment period that ends in October, Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is expected to formally endorse ODF by year's end, recommending the format for use by the public sector.

19 Jan, 2007: Yale Law School’s Open Standards International Symposium (OSIS)
During this ground-breaking symposium, a distinguished international group of technologists, policymakers, entrepreneurs, executives, lawyers, computer scientists, and activists will map out the terrain of open standards issues in four panels: (1) Technology; (2) Economics; (3) Politics; and (4) Law. Read more ....

18 Jan, 2007: India - Kerala’s Draft IT Policy Released (The Hindu)
... The policy stresses that Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) will be used in e-governance projects. Open standards such as Unicode and Open Document Format and Open Architectures will be followed in e-governance projects to avoid total dependence on select vendors. The Government proposed to develop the State as the FOSS destination in the country. It will provide ...

28 Nov, 2006: ODF Alliance Hails Brazil, India, Italy, and Poland for Recognizing OpenDocument Format (ODF Alliance)

21 Nov, 2006: Wi-Fi standards face patent threat (CNET)
Companies working with popular standards for wireless technology may have a patent infringement problem. A federal judge in Tyler, Texas, ruled last week that an Australian government agency holds the rights to patents on the underlying technology used in two Wi-Fi standards and a third proposed standard. The decision--if it survives what many assume will be a lengthy appeals ...

20 Nov, 2006: Study: Economic Impact of Open Source Software on Innovation and the Competitiveness of the ICT Sector of the EU