Here’s another gem from the WIPO meetings on a Development Agenda, which followed the proposal of 14 developing countries (the "Friends of Development") for WIPO to steer away from bluntly foisting IMP maximalism upon everyone, in serfdom to rich-country rightsholders. This time, it’s not the quote that is absurd, but rather the text it refers Read more »
Though I really shouldn’t be blogging, I can’t help it (this might provide a hint as to why). Currently, I am evaluating tons of WIPO papers from the first round of the Development Agenda debate (2005) for my master’s thesis. Some (actually most) of these have some amazing soundbites. If you think about them for Read more »
EFF has just released a little cartoon movie about the superpowers that new laws in the US could award the entertainment industry. Funny and chilling at the same time. Check it out! The evil superheroes look like evil twins of the Invincibles, and the © on their chests make them unmistakable. Let’s fight back! (via Read more »
Recently, Copy/South was brought to my attention. It’s a research group that consists of people from all over the world. They seek to research the inner workings of the global copyright system and its largely negative effects on the global South. And in the course, they have produced some very nice materials. There is, for Read more »
For any film-maker, it’s only a short step into copyright hell. Who’s got the copyright on the script? How to deal with outtakes from other movies? Questions like that can break a low/no-budget short film. At the International Short Film Festival in Hamburg, Germany, my friend Meike Richter will present Creative Commons as an alternative Read more »
Last weekend (yes, I know, it’s been a while), librarian organisation eIFL-IP (Electronic Information for Libraries) held a workshop in Kiev, Ukraine. Participants came from countries of the former Soviet Union, from Mongolia, Arabia, Ghana and Cambodia. Quite an international environment, and very interesting people. Libraries for me have always been a wellspring of knowledge, Read more »
The latest round of WIPO negotiations on a broadcasting treaty, which took place at the start of May, ended somewhat inconclusively. As the US pet proposal of including "webcasting" monopoly powers in the treaty held up everything else, the negotiators agreed to schedule yet another preparatory meeting for September before deciding to hold a formal Read more »
As we non-French speakers are desperately trying to grab every morsel of information that comes out about the current state of the French copyright law, Jean-Baptiste Soufron comes to our rescue. Here’s his summary in English, which he wrote so that he doesn’t have to answer tons of emails on this question. Thanks!
This week at WIPO, delegates are negotiating the proposed Broadcast Treaty. This treaty has a "webcasting" option. With this option enabled, anyone making available a combination of sounds and images on the internet would receive a new kind of monopoly powers over that "webcast". Richard Stallman has aptly called these "skunk odor powers": They stick Read more »
Following a bid to lower the cost of medicine, the Philippine government has run into trouble with pharma manufacturer Pfizer. IPWatch has an article to give you all the gory details. There’s a medication against high blood pressure. In the Philippines, it costs a lot; next door in Indonesia and Thailand, it’s available a lot Read more »