Digital Rights + Internet Governance + Innovation Policy

What does it mean for ICANN to act in the public interest?

ICANN should bake-in to its internal policy development process, consideration of the various interests and stakeholders that can together reach what can be called the 'public interest'. Consider principles that we agree help us to achieve what we think is the 'public interest,' like openness and promoting freedom and making sure the Internet enables education, communication, innovation, exploration ...

IP Justice Statement on ICANN’s Responsibility to Respect Human Rights

IP Justice submitted a statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding its relationship with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). In its submission, IP Justice argued that ICANN needs a better legal framework that will obligate the organization to respect internationally recognized [...]

IP Justice Comments on ICANN Plans for New Top-Level Domains: Keep the Core Neutral – ICANN Should Avoid Expanding Scope of Mission to Include Enforcing “Morality” and Fighting “Terrorism”

IP Justice submitted brief comments today to ICANN regarding its plan for introducing new Top-Level Domains (TLDs). Specifically, IP Justice raised concerns about policy proposals that threaten freedom of expression on the Internet and seek to expand ICANN's mission to include ensuring "Morality and Public Order" (MAPO) and preventing "terrorism" through personal background checks. IP Justice believes both of these ICANN proposals are mis-guided and will harm the healthy development of the Internet and the global public interest.

Urgent Communique: International Experts Find that Pending Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement Threatens Public Interests

A gathering of over 90 legal academics, practitioners, and public interest organizations from 6 continents met at American University Washington College of Law last week to draft an Urgent Communique concerning the public interest aspects of the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). The international experts found that ACTA is a deeply flawed proposal created by a deeply flawed process that threatens to undermine fundamental freedoms at the global level. IP Justice participated in the meeting and endorsed the Urgent Communique, which was signed by ......

IP Justice Report on 2007 Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

Links to Audio, Video, and Photos of IGF-Rio. Where 2007 IGF Excelled: High Quality of Independently Organized Workshops, World-Class Technical Capabilities, Offline Interactions & Networking Opportunities; But: Human Rights & Controversy Avoided, Glaring Lack of Gender Balance & Youth Voices, Last' Year's Speakers ...

Brazilian Minister of Culture & Artist Gilberto Gil Embraces Technology

14 March 2007 - The NY Times published a terrific article today about internationally renowned singer/song-writer Gilberto Gil, who also happens to be Brazil's Minister of Culture. Gil is speaking at "South By SouthWest" this week before kicking off his US concert tour. I was lucky to meet Gil at the 2005 World Summit on [...]

IP Justice Submission to the IGF: Realizing the Internet’s Promise for Universal Access to Knowledge and Development

- Internet’s open and free nature are key to accessing knowledge and development - Internet Governance Policies and Intellectual Property Rights - IP Justice Recommendations for an Internet Governance Forum Discussion to Promote the Internet as a Tool for Access to Knowledge and Development: 1. Preserve Openness of Internet and Free Flow of Information: - Build Freedom of Expression Values into Laws & Architectures - Critical Online Speech Censored by Copyright and Trademark -“Digital Locks” Control Flow of Information and Threaten Interoperability - Preserve Interoperability with Open and Free Technical Standards - Governments Adopt Open Document Formats - Encourage Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Development 2. Grow the Online Information Commons: - Recognize Internet as Valuable Tool for Access to Knowledge - Protect and Value Public Domain - Database Rights Restrict Free Flow of Information on Internet - Provide Online Access to Publicly Funded Research - Recognize Social Value of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Software 3. Build Respect for Civil Liberties into IPR Laws and Procedures Addressing Online Behavior - ICANN’s Whois Policy Must Conform with Privacy Laws - US DMCA “Notice and Take-Down” Provisions Should Comply with Due Process Conclusion: IGF Should Address Relationship Between Intellectual Property Rights, Free Expression, and Access to Knowledge

Tragedy of the Commons: IPR in the Info Age

"Tragedy of the Commons": Intellectual Property Rights in the Information Age The Threat to Civil Liberties and Innovation Posed by Expanding Copyrights By Robin D. Gross, Esq. IP Justice Executive Director www.ipjustice.org Published by MIT Press, 2006 0.  Introduction As we enter an information age, the rules governing the use and dissemination of information become [...]

Circumvention Prohibitions Reconsidered: Why America’s Mistake is Europe’s Future

Circumvention Prohibitions Reconsidered: Why America's Mistake is Europe's Future By Robin D. Gross, IP Justice I.  US and EU Pressured to Outlaw Consumer Circumvention Today lawmakers all over the world are both dreaming of the opportunities and grappling with the challenges that digital technology creates for authors and distributors of intellectual property.  At the same [...]

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