Statement of American Bar Association delivered by Henry Judy at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) 23 May 2007 - Geneva CHAIRMAN DESAI: Thank you very much. Can I now turn to Henry Judy of the American Bar Association? HENRY JUDY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Henry Judy. I'm with the American [...]
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. A2K@IGF joins in supporting the statement from Brazil and Argentina this morning to focus the openness theme on fundamental rights and open standards, and the diversity theme on knowledge production and sharing. ...
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. ...
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 24-25 May 2007 (non-public) meeting.
Click on above title for more info on 23 May 2007 consultation in Geneva
By Robin Gross, IP Justice Executive Director - Yale Law School Information Society Project on Access to Knowledge