I've written a chapter about the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in a new report entitled "Global Information Society Watch" published by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and (iTeM). Besides WIPO, the report includes a number of other articles about global policy-making institutions such as ICANN, ITU, UNESCO, and UNDP. The report officially launches [...]
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 public goods and improved economic and social welfare. ...
"A broadly recognized right to freedom of expression and communication is guaranteed in many of the major international treaties dealing with civil liberties. Many of these treaties are legally binding on countries and many recognize the need for freedom of expression “in any mediumâ€, foreshadowing the battles of the digital environment. Freedom of expression rights should not be devalued on the Internet and individuals must retain their existing rights to communicate in the new online environment. ...
Our coalition is particularly concerned about the impact that unbalanced intellectual property rights have on the Internet as a tool of free expression, innovation, education, and development. One focus of the coalition is setting methodologies or best practice norms for the implementation of laws dealing with Technological Protection Measures (TPM) and Digital Rights Management (DRM) restrictions, which have been shown to present serious impediments to access to knowledge and the free flow of information. Another focus is on coordinating participation and awareness of Access to Knowledge (A2K) activities at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), including proposals for a Development Agenda and an Access to Knowledge Treaty at WIPO. Another area of concern for our coalition is with increasing attempts to impose liability on third parties, particularly information providers, for the infringing activities of others. ...
How the trade group, the International Intellectual Property Association (IIPA) Drives the Agenda at the Office of the US Trade Representative through the "Special 301" Process by Filing Annual Reports on Intellectual Property related trade losses.
Statement Concerning WIPO Broadcast Treaty Provided by Information Technology, Consumer Electronics and Telecommunications Industries Representatives, Public Interest Organizations, and Creative Community Representatives: The undersigned represent a broad and diverse group, united in common concern that the WIPO Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasts and Broadcasting Organizations could harm important economic and public policy interests. Members of this group submitted a statement in connection with a forum held at the USPTO on September 5, 2006, and the issues identified in that earlier statement largely remain relevant. This Statement dated May 9, 2007 offers preliminary comments regarding the Chair’s “Non-paper on the WIPO Treaty on the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations†issued by WIPO on May 1, 2007. .....
Click on above title for info on the 12-15 November 2007 IGF meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Dynamic Coalition on Open Standards (DCOS) will meeting on 9-10 July 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Click on above title for more info on book launch on 22 May 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting is open to the public and is part of the WSIS cluster of events in Switzerland in late May 2007.
Click on above title for more info on 24-25 May 2007 (non-public) meeting.