infoJustice

IP Enforcement Roundup

YouTube Gives Users Creative Commons Licensing Option; Creates a Creative Commons Library

YouTube now offers people who upload video the option of licensing their videos under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0), which gives others the right to use and to remix the work as long as they give the credit to the creator of the original work.  Additionally, YouTube has created a library of works already available under creative commons licenses, from sources including C-SPAN, Voice of America and Al Jazeera.  Click here for more.

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression Says Internet Access Is a Basic Human Right; Warns Against Specific Enforcement Actions

UN Special Rapporteur Frank La Rue has issued a report to the UN General Assembly Human Rights Council stating that “the Internet has become a key means by which individuals can exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression.”  His report finds that “cutting off users from internet access, regardless of the justification provided, including on the grounds of violating intellectual property rights law, to be disproportionate and thus a violation of article 19, paragraph 3 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.” Click here for more.

Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus Publishes Its “2011 Country Watch List”

On May 27, the International Anti-Piracy Caucus listed Canada, China, Russia, Spain and Ukraine as countries “that continue to lag in efforts to combat piracy.”  The Caucus was formed in 2003 and is currently co-chaired by Sens. Whitehouse and Hatch, and Reps. Goodlatte and Schiff.  At a press conference announcing the list, Sen. Goodlattee warned of a “virtual evisceration of the legitimate market for American entertainment in many foreign countries.” Unlike the US Trade Representative’s Special 301 Report, this Watch List focuses specifically on copyright and copyright enforcement.  Click here for more.

U.S. Governors Ask Obama To Pursue Strong IPR Provisions In TPP

Seven governors have written President Obama asking him to include in the Trans Pacific Partnership “very strong intellectual property rights provisions, consistent with U.S. law, for protecting the investments of our innovative, intellectual property-investive sectors, such as biopharmaceuticals.”  The letter was signed by  Govs. Martin O’Malley (D-MD), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Dan Malloy (D-CT), Jack Markell (D-DE), Deval Patrick (D-MA), Bev Perdue (D-NC) and Christine Gregoire (D-WA).  Click here for more.

Events and deadlines

• September 14 – September 14:  U.S. IPR Center Symposium  – Online IP Theft in the 21st Century.
• June 7-8 – WTO TRIPS Council
• June 7-8 – Copyright Summit – Creating Value in the Digital Economy.
• June 14 – A Performance Right for Broadcasting: Will Radio Begin to Pay?  Sponsored by Broadband (IP) Breakfast
• June 15-24 – Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (WIPO)
• August 25-27 – Global Congress on Public Interest Intellectual Property Law