Proposal For A New Model Giving Rights To Online Sharing Of Content
A new publication by a well-known open access advocate proposes a business model for sharing content online that would recognise sharing as a right.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting
Groups Call On Congress To Step Back From SOPA-Style Legislation
Some 70 groups from across the social and political spectrum have sent a letter to the US Senate and House of Representatives calling for them to step back from any anti-piracy legislation until more consideration can be given of the effect on the internet.
Will The Old Music Industry Giants Be Exchanged For New Ones?
CANNES, FRANCE--The red carpets were still there at the Midem, the world’s largest music fair, but they have become shorter. The industry shattered over the years by the decline in physical sales and fighting fiercely against digital piracy this year praised the revenue from digital sources which have overtaken physical sales in some countries. But it remains to be seen - can the old giants partner with the new, digital platform giants, and survive?
Discussion Of Treaty On Industrial Designs, Role Of ISPs Resumed At WIPO
After being adjourned in November in the mists of a fire at the World Intellectual Property Organization, a meeting on trademarks and industrial designs resumed today in icy Geneva.
New Internet Domain Process Off To Smooth Start, ICANN Says
The initial application period for the expansion of new generic top-level domains on the internet is going well after the first couple of weeks, but it is too soon to put the armoury of intellectual property protections to the test, the head of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) said today.
World Economic Forum ‘Cyber Resilience’ Initiative Includes IP Protection
The World Economic Forum annual gathering of private sector leaders today released a "Cyber Resilience Initiative to Safeguard the Digital Environment" that includes a commitment to protect intellectual property rights online.
Most EU Members Sign ACTA; SOPA-Style Protests Building
While most of the 27 member states of the European Union signed the much-debated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) yesterday in Tokyo, joining the United States, Japan and other ACTA partners, hackers brought down the website of the European Parliament, and a key official stepped down. This may be only the beginning of the protests and petitioning.
ITU In “Urgent” Meeting On Global Spectrum As New Devices Gobble It Up
A high-level, highly technical UN meeting that occurs about once every four years at which key decisions are made about wireless communications opened today in Geneva. The meeting comes as devices such as smart phones and tablets are devouring many times more spectrum than mobile phones of the past.
Is Piracy Part Of The Digital Ecosystem?
The blog Monday Note has an analysis today on digital piracy in light of the media frenzy over the US Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill last week. The analysis suggests that anti-piracy measures like France's Hadopi are not working, but there is evidence that offering competitive legitimate download sites does work.
EU Telecoms Said To Be Unfairly Restricting Internet Access
French online rights group La Quadrature du Net this week announced an analysis asserting that in more than half of European Union countries, telecommunications operators engage in "illegitimate" restrictions of their users' access.
Government Anti-Piracy Measures Working, Music Industry Says
Industry profits from digital music are on the rise as industry-owned music download services expand and gain acceptance, anti-piracy efforts take hold in some countries, and internet intermediaries join in, music industry representatives said today.
SOPA, Piracy, Pharmaceuticals May Dominate US IP Policy Discussions In 2012
Online piracy, patent reform and intellectual property issues relating to pharmaceuticals are among the top legislative and regulatory priorities for many stakeholder groups in the United States this year, but given that 2012 is an election year, chances are slim that Congress will push through anything that isn’t a top priority or that could cause too much partisan rancour.