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12 May, 2008: Crown copyright is overdue for retirement (Toronto Star) 
"...Given the significant costs associated with a program that does more harm than good and that appears susceptible to political manipulation, any new copyright reform should eliminate Crown copyright and adopt in its place a presumption that government materials belong to the public domain to be freely used without prior permission or compensation."
2 May, 2008: Mandate of Advisory Group of Internet Governance Forum Extended
The mandate of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the Internet Governance Forum has been extended. The Special Adviser for Internet Governance to the Secretary-General, Nitin Desai, has been asked to continue as the Chairman of the Advisory Group, which will meet again on 13 to 15 May in Geneva before handing over to a renewed group to prepare the ...
1 May, 2008: New Canadian Internet Registry Association (CIRA) Whois Policy Strikes a Balance Between Privacy and Access (Michael Geist)
"Under the new policy, CIRA will continue to collect the same contact information from registrants as under its current policy. However, it will no longer require that such information be publicly available through its whois directory. In its place, CIRA will only require the public disclosure of limited technical information, though individual registrants may voluntarily "opt-in" to providing more ...
30 Apr, 2008: “The Problem with the Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty (and What To Do About It)” by Aaron Shaw (KEI Studies)
In mid-February 2008, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a request for public comments on the proposed “Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement” (ACTA). However, with the exception of a handful of press releases, information about the proposal itself remains scarce. Mainstream media outlets have printed USTR officials' talking points about the importance of winning “the fight against fakes,” ...
30 Apr, 2008: CIPPIC Submission on ACTA to Canadian Government 
The content of ACTA could have significant implications for Canada. Counterfeiting activity harms Canadian consumers and Canadian trade. All Canadians endorse the dedication of appropriate law-enforcement resources to addressing trade-debilitating commercial infringement. However, intellectual property policy equally touches on important policy frameworks governing innovation, privacy, security, trade, creativity and freedom of expression. Enthusiasm to address the harms legitimately attributed ...
25 Apr, 2008: Uninvited to the Public Policy Forum Symposium (Howard Knopf)
"I have now been uninvited to the Public Policy Forum (“PPF”) IP program entitled INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REFORM: INNOVATION AND THE ECONOMY on April 28, 2008, which will now proceed without me on the program. It seems that strong pressure was brought to bear on PPF to have me removed from the program and that PPF capitulated. The presentation ...
25 Apr, 2008: USTR Press Release on 2008 Special 301 List
Report Highlights US Industry Desire for More Restrictive Intellectual Property Protection, Acknowledges Compliance by Some US Trading Partners....
25 Apr, 2008: Canada Remains in Good Company in USTR Special 301 Report (Micheal Geist)
"The U.S. Trade Representative has released its annual Special 301 report, in which it criticizes dozens of countries over their intellectual property laws while ignoring its own shortcomings. Despite demands from the copyright lobby that Canada be placed on the "Priority Watch List," Canada is again on the lower level Watch List along with 35 other countries including Norway, ...
25 Apr, 2008: USTR’s 2008 Special Section 301 Report (William Paltry)
On Friday, April 25th, the Office of the United States Trade Representative issued its 2008 Special 301 report. Nine countries were placed on the naughtiest of the naughty list, the Priority Watch List: China, Russia, Argentina, Chile, India, Israel, Pakistan, Thailand, and Venezuela. Of these China gets the most extensive treatment. Thirty-six countries were placed on the naughty list, the ...
17 Apr, 2008: Internet Bill of Rights Coalition on “Search Engine” (CBC Radio)
Radio interview (.mp3) of Robin Gross and Robert Guerra discuss the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Dynamic Coalition for an Internet Bill of Rights on CBC's "Search Engine" with host Jesse Brown.
15 Nov, 2007: Ask First, ACTA Later (Michael Geist)
The Australian government has launched a public consultation on its possible involvement in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations. Unlike the Canadian government, which jumped at the chance to join the U.S. in the negotiations with no advance warning and no public discussion, the Australians are taking the time to ask the public whether it thinks the country should participate ...
19 Mar, 2007: The Basic Principles of TRIPS (IPR HelpDesk)
There are two principles that influence the interpretation and application of TRIPS and that must be mentioned here: the principle of national treatment and the most favoured nation principle.
12 May, 2008: Crown copyright is overdue for retirement (Toronto Star)
"...Given the significant costs associated with a program that does more harm than good and that appears susceptible to political manipulation, any new copyright reform should eliminate Crown copyright and adopt in its place a presumption that government materials belong to the public domain to be freely used without prior permission or compensation."
2 May, 2008: Mandate of Advisory Group of Internet Governance Forum Extended
The mandate of the Multistakeholder Advisory Group of the Internet Governance Forum has been extended. The Special Adviser for Internet Governance to the Secretary-General, Nitin Desai, has been asked to continue as the Chairman of the Advisory Group, which will meet again on 13 to 15 May in Geneva before handing over to a renewed group to prepare the ...
1 May, 2008: New Canadian Internet Registry Association (CIRA) Whois Policy Strikes a Balance Between Privacy and Access (Michael Geist)
"Under the new policy, CIRA will continue to collect the same contact information from registrants as under its current policy. However, it will no longer require that such information be publicly available through its whois directory. In its place, CIRA will only require the public disclosure of limited technical information, though individual registrants may voluntarily "opt-in" to providing more ...
30 Apr, 2008: “The Problem with the Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty (and What To Do About It)” by Aaron Shaw (KEI Studies)
In mid-February 2008, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a request for public comments on the proposed “Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement” (ACTA). However, with the exception of a handful of press releases, information about the proposal itself remains scarce. Mainstream media outlets have printed USTR officials' talking points about the importance of winning “the fight against fakes,” ...
30 Apr, 2008: CIPPIC Submission on ACTA to Canadian Government
The content of ACTA could have significant implications for Canada. Counterfeiting activity harms Canadian consumers and Canadian trade. All Canadians endorse the dedication of appropriate law-enforcement resources to addressing trade-debilitating commercial infringement. However, intellectual property policy equally touches on important policy frameworks governing innovation, privacy, security, trade, creativity and freedom of expression. Enthusiasm to address the harms legitimately attributed ...
25 Apr, 2008: Uninvited to the Public Policy Forum Symposium (Howard Knopf)
"I have now been uninvited to the Public Policy Forum (“PPF”) IP program entitled INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY REFORM: INNOVATION AND THE ECONOMY on April 28, 2008, which will now proceed without me on the program. It seems that strong pressure was brought to bear on PPF to have me removed from the program and that PPF capitulated. The presentation ...
25 Apr, 2008: USTR Press Release on 2008 Special 301 List
Report Highlights US Industry Desire for More Restrictive Intellectual Property Protection, Acknowledges Compliance by Some US Trading Partners....
25 Apr, 2008: Canada Remains in Good Company in USTR Special 301 Report (Micheal Geist)
"The U.S. Trade Representative has released its annual Special 301 report, in which it criticizes dozens of countries over their intellectual property laws while ignoring its own shortcomings. Despite demands from the copyright lobby that Canada be placed on the "Priority Watch List," Canada is again on the lower level Watch List along with 35 other countries including Norway, ...
25 Apr, 2008: USTR’s 2008 Special Section 301 Report (William Paltry)
On Friday, April 25th, the Office of the United States Trade Representative issued its 2008 Special 301 report. Nine countries were placed on the naughtiest of the naughty list, the Priority Watch List: China, Russia, Argentina, Chile, India, Israel, Pakistan, Thailand, and Venezuela. Of these China gets the most extensive treatment. Thirty-six countries were placed on the naughty list, the ...
17 Apr, 2008: Internet Bill of Rights Coalition on “Search Engine” (CBC Radio)
Radio interview (.mp3) of Robin Gross and Robert Guerra discuss the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Dynamic Coalition for an Internet Bill of Rights on CBC's "Search Engine" with host Jesse Brown.
27 Nov, 2007: Kenyan Copyright Board Takes Piracy War to Cyber Cafes (Africa Business Daily)
"Cyber café operators within Nairobi are torn between legalising their Microsoft software operating system, shifting to Open Source Code or closing shop all together following the crack down on illegal software. Most cyber cafes in Kenya use Microsoft software. but with no valid licences. Jet Cyber and Dagit Cyber Café in Nairobi are the latest companies to be raided ...
20 Oct, 2007: International copyright trends & Access to Knowledge (A2K) initiatives in Africa
23 Oct, 2006: BSA Urges South Africa to Criminalize Copyright Infringement (Bizassist)
The BSA tells a few fibs to South African policymakers: "Internationally, end-user piracy has been recognised as a criminal offence. By making South African companies and their managers criminally responsible for end-user copying, this would not only go a long way in assisting intellectual property right holders but would also conform with international standards and will promote good corporate governance,” ...
28 Nov, 2007: WTO Launches Probe On China Distribution; Reviews Thai IP Policies (IP-Watch)
The World Trade Organization has launched an investigation into allegations that China is unfairly limiting the flow of copyrighted material from the United States into the country. Meanwhile, the WTO issued the periodic review of Thailand’s policies including a discussion of intellectual property rights. US concerns in the new dispute are that China provides “less favourable distribution opportunities for ...
24 Nov, 2007: WTO Panel on Chinese Content Distribution Delayed (IP-Watch)
"The formation of a World Trade Organization panel requested by the United States on China’s distribution of American copyrighted material was delayed this week after a procedural move on an unrelated matter. The US panel request was to be considered by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 19 November, but the agenda for the meeting was blocked by Taiwan ...
21 Nov, 2007: S. Korea Urged to Increase IPR in EU Trade Talks (IP-Watch)
South Korea has been urged to strengthen its intellectual property rules in order to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union. Talks are underway between the EU and the Seoul government aimed at achieving a far-reaching liberalisation of commerce between the two sides. In a report approved on 20 November by the European Parliament’s international trade ...
18 Oct, 2007: US should be more rational about IPR issues - China official UPDATE (Forbes.com)
"Speaking to reporters, Tian said that China's IPR legal system will take some time to evolve, noting that Western IPR concepts took some time to mature. 'China's IPR legal system has only existed for 20 years,' he said. 'Britain took 300 years and America 200 years. We need at least another generation.'
11 Oct, 2007: US Requests Second WTO Panel On China’s IP Protection (IP-Watch)
"The United States has decided to step up its challenge to China’s restrictions on copyright-protected books, music and films by asking the World Trade Organization to establish a dispute settlement panel. During June and July, the US and China held formal talks over trade restrictions applied by the Beijing authorities. “Those discussions have not led to a resolution of ...
27 Sep, 2007: China ‘regrets’ US repeated IPR complaint to WTO (China Daily)
"China regrets that the United States has appealed to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the second time to set up an expert panel to investigate US complaints that China is failing to do enough to protect intellectual property rights (IPRs), a Chinese government spokesman said on Thursday. The Chinese government would actively respond to the US request and ...
27 Sep, 2007: WTO Inquiry Launched Into US Complaints Against China’s IP Record (IP-Watch)
"A World Trade Organization panel will formally investigate United States complaints that China has failed to adequately protect intellectual property rights on goods such as software and movies, a move criticised by Beijing. WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on 25 September established a panel following Washington’s second request to look into its allegations against China. Findings from the inquiry ...
25 Sep, 2007: WTO takes up US complaint against China patent regime (AFP)
""We strongly oppose the US attempt to impose on developing members through this case," China said in a statement. ... Beijing said the case went beyond what was prescribed in the "TRIPS" agreement among the 151 WTO members, which covers intellectual property and trade. ..."
25 Sep, 2007: WTO to Investigate Chinese Piracy of US Goods (VoA)
"The World Trade Organization (WTO) has agreed to investigate a United States complaint that China is stealing its intellectual property by producing and selling counterfeit versions of its films, software and other goods. ...The European Union, Japan, Argentina, Mexico and Taiwan have joined the U.S. complaint. The panel is due to make a recommendation six to nine months ...
13 Aug, 2007: US Elevates WTO IP Case Against China By Seeking Panel (IP-Watch)
"The United States has asked the World Trade Organization to take the next level a case it filed on China’s intellectual property rights protection after four months of consultations did not lead to the desired results, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said. The case on copyright and trademark protection was filed in April together with a case relating to ...
23 Oct, 2007: Copyright - Digital Technologies - New Zealand
By Nandor Tanczos MP, Green Party Spokesperson on Commerce. Second Reading Speech.
The Greens alone opposed this bill at its first reading. We voted against it because, contrary to the ministry’s 2002 advice, it served to protect access control technology, which is technology that has been used to price discriminate and control geographical distribution of works, to the detriment of ...
7 Aug, 2007: Reverse engineering gets the nod in new New Zealand Copyright Bill draft, however consumers have reason to be concerned (ComputerWorld)
"Consumers still have reasons to be fearful of proposed new copyright legislation, but for inventors and adapters of technology, the outcome is looking brighter. Consumer champions have protested that Parliament’s Commerce Select Committee, while upholding format-shifting for copyright works in new legislation, has also allowed copyright-owners to contract out of the law. However, adaptors’ and inventors’ rights have ...
14 May, 2007: Copyright law reinforces monopoly, Open Source Society warns New Zealand MPs (Computerworld)
The New Zealand Open Source Society is opposing those parts of the Copyright Amendment Bill that would make it illegal to circumvent technological protection of copyright. The society argued, before a parliamentary committee, that such measures would reinforce Microsoft’s market power. Addressing Parliament’s Commerce Committee, the NZOSS gave the planned changes to the Copyright Act a big thumbs-down. ...
31 Dec, 2004: Archive of documents from 2004 and prior
Free Trade Implementation Bill, IP Chapter
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/usafta/report/chapter16.pdf
Trade bill in the Australian house, introduced at the request of the United States. Strongly opposed by education sector, librarians, civil libertarians, and economists.
"Libraries Caught in Copyright Changes"
The Age (AU)
Transcript of Canberra Hearing in Australian Senate on trade bill
aph.gov.au
6 Mar, 2008: Complaint Lodged Over EU Parliament’s Exclusive Use Of Microsoft Systems (IP-Watch)
A formal complaint has been lodged with the European Parliament over how its information technology systems rely almost exclusively on software manufactured by Microsoft. Advocates of open standard software, which is developed on a not-for-profit basis, allege that the Seattle-based giant enjoys an effective monopoly or ‘lock-in’ within the European Union institutions. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and ...
26 Feb, 2008: Lobby groups oppose plans for EU copyright extension
The European Commission currently has proposals on the table to extend performers' copyright terms. Described by Professor Martin Kretschmer as the "Beatles Extension Act", the proposed measure would extend copyright from 50 to 95 years after recording. A vast number of classical tracks are at stake; the copyright on recordings from the fifties and early sixties is nearing its expiration ...
23 Feb, 2008: UK Gowers Review on Intellectual Property (Dec. 2006 Final Report)
"The principle recommendations of the Review are aimed at: 1. tackling IP crime and ensuring that rights are well enforced; 2. reducing the costs and complexity of the system; and 3. reforming copyright law to allow individuals and institutions to use content in ways consistent with the digital age. The IP framework must create incentives for innovation, without unduly ...
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 ...
29 Jan, 2008: Top EU Court: File-Sharers Don’t Have to be Named (Reuters)
EU countries can refuse to disclose names of file sharers on the Internet in civil cases, the EU's top court said on Tuesday in a blow to copyright holders trying to fight digital piracy. The European Court of Justice ruled on a dispute between Spanish music rights holders association Promusicae and Spain's top telecommunications operator, Telefonica. "Community law ...
10 Dec, 2007: Dutch government threatens to sideline Microsoft (MacWorld)
"Proposed legislation that would mandate the use of the Open Document Format (ODF) across the entire Dutch government has infuriated Microsoft. On Wednesday the Dutch parliament will discuss a plan to mandate use of the Open Document Format (ODF) at government agencies. The proposal is part of a wider plan to increase the sustainability of information and innovation, while ...
10 Dec, 2007: Broadcast Treaty: Council of Europe Picks Up Where WIPO Left Off (IP-Watch)
The Council of Europe is deliberating on whether to negotiate a convention to protect broadcasters’ signals against piracy and thereby take up the issue from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) where negotiations on a proposed broadcasting treaty came to a standstill earlier this year. The Council’s decision to proceed depends on approval by its Committee of Ministers. The ...
1 Dec, 2007: EU Acceptance Of TRIPS Health Amendment Adds 28 Members (IP-Watch)
The European Union has taken steps to ratify a 2005 decision by the World Trade Organization designed to ensure that intellectual property does not limit access to medicines in developing countries. Peter Mandelson, the EU’s trade commissioner, announced on 30 November that the Union has formally told the WTO that it accepts a protocol amending the Agreement on Trade-Related ...
21 Nov, 2007: S. Korea Urged to Increase IPR in EU Trade Talks (IP-Watch)
South Korea has been urged to strengthen its intellectual property rules in order to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union. Talks are underway between the EU and the Seoul government aimed at achieving a far-reaching liberalisation of commerce between the two sides. In a report approved on 20 November by the European Parliament’s international trade ...
20 Sep, 2007: Concern Rises Over EU Bilaterals With Developing Countries (IP-Watch)
"Concern is growing in both Europe and developing countries about whether a series of free trade agreements slated for signature later this year will contain overly stringent rules on intellectual property. ... Anti-poverty activists and ACP diplomats have expressed misgivings about the Commission’s approach, arguing that it could be used to prise open poor countries to Western firms to the ...
12 May, 2008: Crown copyright is overdue for retirement (Toronto Star)
"...Given the significant costs associated with a program that does more harm than good and that appears susceptible to political manipulation, any new copyright reform should eliminate Crown copyright and adopt in its place a presumption that government materials belong to the public domain to be freely used without prior permission or compensation."
30 Apr, 2008: CIPPIC Submission on ACTA to Canadian Government
The content of ACTA could have significant implications for Canada. Counterfeiting activity harms Canadian consumers and Canadian trade. All Canadians endorse the dedication of appropriate law-enforcement resources to addressing trade-debilitating commercial infringement. However, intellectual property policy equally touches on important policy frameworks governing innovation, privacy, security, trade, creativity and freedom of expression. Enthusiasm to address the harms legitimately attributed ...
25 Apr, 2008: USTR Press Release on 2008 Special 301 List
Report Highlights US Industry Desire for More Restrictive Intellectual Property Protection, Acknowledges Compliance by Some US Trading Partners....
25 Apr, 2008: Canada Remains in Good Company in USTR Special 301 Report (Micheal Geist)
"The U.S. Trade Representative has released its annual Special 301 report, in which it criticizes dozens of countries over their intellectual property laws while ignoring its own shortcomings. Despite demands from the copyright lobby that Canada be placed on the "Priority Watch List," Canada is again on the lower level Watch List along with 35 other countries including Norway, ...
13 Feb, 2008: No One Likes a Bully: the IIPA and Canada (William Patry)
"Despite the use of the word “International” in its name, the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) is an umbrella group comprised of 7 U.S. trade associations: the Association of American Publishers, Business Software Alliance, Entertainment Software Association (video game industry), The Independent Film & Television Alliance, The Motion Picture Association of America, National Music Publishers’ Association, and Recording Industry Association ...
16 Jan, 2008: US Supreme Court Declines to Hear “Orphan Works” Case (Library Journal)
"The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of Kahle v. Ashcroft, brought by Internet Archive and Open Content Alliance founders Brewster Kahle and Rick Prelinger in 2003, which challenged the constitutionality of the current copyright regime. Although not unexpected, the Supreme Court's refusal comes after a recent ruling by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals raised hopes ...
2 Dec, 2007: PC World Names the Most Anti-Tech Organization in America (PC World)
These groups line up against tech interests in courtrooms and corridors of power across the country: RIAA & MPAA, Big Pharma, BioTech, BigTelco, Verizon, AT&T, Progress & Freedom Foundation, large wireless carriers. Read Mark Sullivan's analysis...
30 Nov, 2007: The Proposed Reform Of Venezuelan Constitution: Cultural And Intellectual Property Issues (IP-Watch)
During the last few months across Venezuela at dozens of open forums -both on the streets and within institutions and in the media, there have been many discussions held among intellectuals, authors, copyright users, small traders, and government officers about the issue of author’s rights/ copyright. At stake was how to overcome a major contradiction in the current Venezuelan Constitution ...
27 Nov, 2007: A new copyright law is coming to Canada
"Ottawa copyright circles are buzzing with hints that the government is preparing its new revised copyright bill, and will be tabling it soon, perhaps as early as next week. And the buzz is that the new law will basically be a copy of the controversial U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Much in the as-yet-unseen bill will not ...
24 Nov, 2007: WTO Panel on Chinese Content Distribution Delayed (IP-Watch)
"The formation of a World Trade Organization panel requested by the United States on China’s distribution of American copyrighted material was delayed this week after a procedural move on an unrelated matter. The US panel request was to be considered by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 19 November, but the agenda for the meeting was blocked by Taiwan ...
12 May, 2008: Crown copyright is overdue for retirement (Toronto Star)
"...Given the significant costs associated with a program that does more harm than good and that appears susceptible to political manipulation, any new copyright reform should eliminate Crown copyright and adopt in its place a presumption that government materials belong to the public domain to be freely used without prior permission or compensation."
30 Apr, 2008: CIPPIC Submission on ACTA to Canadian Government
The content of ACTA could have significant implications for Canada. Counterfeiting activity harms Canadian consumers and Canadian trade. All Canadians endorse the dedication of appropriate law-enforcement resources to addressing trade-debilitating commercial infringement. However, intellectual property policy equally touches on important policy frameworks governing innovation, privacy, security, trade, creativity and freedom of expression. Enthusiasm to address the harms legitimately attributed ...
25 Apr, 2008: USTR Press Release on 2008 Special 301 List
Report Highlights US Industry Desire for More Restrictive Intellectual Property Protection, Acknowledges Compliance by Some US Trading Partners....
25 Apr, 2008: Canada Remains in Good Company in USTR Special 301 Report (Micheal Geist)
"The U.S. Trade Representative has released its annual Special 301 report, in which it criticizes dozens of countries over their intellectual property laws while ignoring its own shortcomings. Despite demands from the copyright lobby that Canada be placed on the "Priority Watch List," Canada is again on the lower level Watch List along with 35 other countries including Norway, ...
13 Feb, 2008: No One Likes a Bully: the IIPA and Canada (William Patry)
"Despite the use of the word “International” in its name, the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) is an umbrella group comprised of 7 U.S. trade associations: the Association of American Publishers, Business Software Alliance, Entertainment Software Association (video game industry), The Independent Film & Television Alliance, The Motion Picture Association of America, National Music Publishers’ Association, and Recording Industry Association ...
16 Jan, 2008: US Supreme Court Declines to Hear “Orphan Works” Case (Library Journal)
"The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeal of Kahle v. Ashcroft, brought by Internet Archive and Open Content Alliance founders Brewster Kahle and Rick Prelinger in 2003, which challenged the constitutionality of the current copyright regime. Although not unexpected, the Supreme Court's refusal comes after a recent ruling by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals raised hopes ...
2 Dec, 2007: PC World Names the Most Anti-Tech Organization in America (PC World)
These groups line up against tech interests in courtrooms and corridors of power across the country: RIAA & MPAA, Big Pharma, BioTech, BigTelco, Verizon, AT&T, Progress & Freedom Foundation, large wireless carriers. Read Mark Sullivan's analysis...
27 Nov, 2007: A new copyright law is coming to Canada
"Ottawa copyright circles are buzzing with hints that the government is preparing its new revised copyright bill, and will be tabling it soon, perhaps as early as next week. And the buzz is that the new law will basically be a copy of the controversial U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Much in the as-yet-unseen bill will not ...
24 Nov, 2007: WTO Panel on Chinese Content Distribution Delayed (IP-Watch)
"The formation of a World Trade Organization panel requested by the United States on China’s distribution of American copyrighted material was delayed this week after a procedural move on an unrelated matter. The US panel request was to be considered by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 19 November, but the agenda for the meeting was blocked by Taiwan ...
2 Nov, 2007: Canadian Gov’t Commissioned Study Finds P2P May Increase Sales (Globe & Mail)
"Industry Canada, a ministry of the federal government, released a surprising study of peer-to-peer file-sharing on the music industry. The study is called The Impact of Music Downloads and P2P File-Sharing on the Purchase of Music: A Study for Industry Canada, and was written by Birgitte Andersen and Marion Frenz, of the Department of Management at the University ...
30 Nov, 2007: The Proposed Reform Of Venezuelan Constitution: Cultural And Intellectual Property Issues (IP-Watch)
During the last few months across Venezuela at dozens of open forums -both on the streets and within institutions and in the media, there have been many discussions held among intellectuals, authors, copyright users, small traders, and government officers about the issue of author’s rights/ copyright. At stake was how to overcome a major contradiction in the current Venezuelan Constitution ...
23 Nov, 2007: UN Economic & Social Council Report on COSTA RICA: “Draft Concluding Observations of the Comm. on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/CRI/CO/4)
"24. The Committee notes with concern the potential impact of the entry into force of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) on the State party’s obligations under the Covenant and, in particular, on traditional agriculture, labour rights, access to health, social security and the intellectual property regimes protecting, inter alia, access to generic medicines, biodiversity, water and the right of ...
14 Jun, 2007: 3-4 July 2007: IGF Preparatory Meeting at Direito GV São Paulo Law School
First Preparatory seminar towards the IGF meeting in Brazil
Organized by Rits and Nupef
Agenda: seminar 1
July, 3 and 4, 2007
Venue: Direito GV São Paulo Law School
Rua Rocha, 233 - Bela Vista - São Paulo
July 3:
9:00 Opening
• Alessandro Octaviani, intellectual propoerty professor and coordinator of juridical practices and complementary activities of the FGV/São Paulo.
• Carlos Afonso, academic coordinator of Nupef and Rits’ ...
30 Apr, 2007: Latin America Workshop:Challenges and Opportunities for Freedom of Expression in Networked Communications Environment
Click above title for more info on 8-10 May 2007 workshop in Buenos Aries, Argentina.
28 Nov, 2006: The Music Process - Between New Business Models And Lawsuits (IP-Watch)
by Pedro Paranaguá. The traditional business model of the phonographic industry is being left behind by the competitiveness of new technologies. The technological world is evolving, but some businesses are struggling as they are not adapting themselves to the ever-increasing changes. Trying not to be left behind, the phonographic industry has preferred to use the marketing of fear: file ...
17 Oct, 2006: Sign the Online Petition for Balanced Copyright Law in Brazil
FGV Law School - Center for Technology & Society (Brazil), IP Justice, Derechos Digitales (Chile), CPSR-Peru and others have launched an online petition for balanced copyright law in Brazil to permit personal use copying of music. Thanks to music-industry lobbying, it is illegal to copy your own music CDs onto your own iPod for your own personal use in ...
