Category Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting

US Congress Committee Issues Report On “Highly Invasive” FDA Surveillance Of Employees

The United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today released a report detailing the US Food and Drug Administration's "highly-invasive" surveillance programme that monitored employees who contacted Congress and the media, according to a press release from the committee leaders. Surveillance was unauthorised and whistleblowers were not given sufficient protection, the report found.

US Calls On Brazil Internet Meeting To Stick To Principles

The United States, home to the organisation that oversees technical aspects of the internet domain name system, has advice for an upcoming meeting in Brazil aimed at revisiting the global internet governance: consider principles developed in past meetings, and don't retread old sore spots. In other words, don't disrupt the status quo.

3D Printing Will Cost The World USD100 Billion, Says Study

A recent report predicts the loss of at least $100 billion per year in intellectual property globally by 2018 as a result of 3D printing.

European Parliament Key Vote On Net Neutrality Laws – 24 February

The European Parliament (EP) is scheduled to vote on 24 February on the draft Single Telecoms Package Regulation drafted by the Industry, Research and Energy Committee - on the future of neutral internet.

Infojustice.org: Australia Commits To Overhaul Of Copyright Act

From infojustice.org: [Australian Digital Alliance] It has been a big week for Australian Copyright. On Thursday the Attorney-General, the Hon George Brandis QC, tabled the long-anticipated final report from the Australian Law Reform Commission’s (ALRC) Copyright and the Digital Economy inquiry. This inquiry was charged with determining if copyright exceptions and limitations were working in the digital age. The conclusion was that reform was needed.

Seminar Shows Continued Divergence Among Nations On Regulating Internet

It is generally considered that internet governance and cyber safety issues should be addressed in a multilateral way, but several points remain highly controversial, such as the adoption of rules and modifications of internet governance to be made. These issues were the subject of a panel at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research this week.

EU Commission Pushes Internationalisation Of Core Internet Infrastructure

Over the revelations of mass surveillance of internet users and government officials, the topic of internet governance has risen to the mainstream political agenda. And a Communication on “Europe's role in shaping the future of Internet Governance” passed by the European Commission today would put “Europe in the center of the debate,” EC Vice President Neelie Kroes said in a press conference in Brussels.

USTR Announces “Notorious” Markets For Counterfeiting, Piracy In 2013

The Office of the United States Trade Representative today published its annual list of online and physical marketplaces worldwide that are most engaged in sales and trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods.

EU Parliament Passes Directive On Collective Rights Management, Pan-EU Licences

With 640 of 680 votes, the European Parliament today passed a new directive on “collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online uses in the internal market.” Rarely before has the usually controversial subject of copyright rallied such broad agreement in Parliament.