infojustice

Advocating for a world where intellectual
property law serves the public interest.

Draft Amendments to China’s Copyright Law Would Raise Penalties, Increase Seizures

Xinhua reports that the Chinese government has released a draft amendment to its copyright law for public comment. The amendment would raise penalties from 100,000 yuan (16,025 USD) to 250,000 yuan (40,063 USD), and would give law enforcement greater powers to seize illicit goods. It is seeking comments on the legislation until July 5. Source: […]

Special 301: Is It Effective?

[Gabriel Michael, ‘To Promote the Progress?’ Blog, Link (CC-BY-SA)] My previous post discussed how Special 301′s enforcement mechanism has rarely been used, and is even less likely to be used in the future. But the frequency with which an enforcement mechanism is used is not a measure of effectiveness. We don’t measure the effectiveness of criminal justice […]

Libraries Can Digitise Books Without Consent, European Advocate General Says

[Monika Ermert, IP Watch, Link (CC-BY-NC-ND)] Libraries can digitise individual books in their collections without the consent of rights holders, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, Niilo Jääskinen, has written in his application in a case (C-117/13) pending at the Luxembourg Court. The digitisation and national legislation in the the European Union […]

Breakthrough in UK Copyright Law Reform Confirmed

[Naomi Korn, CILIP, Link (CC-BY-SA)] 20 years of hard work by our sector has resulted, at last, in the recognition that copyright laws are out of kilter with the digital age and many of the activities taking place across our libraries, archives, museums and educational establishments, need to be supported by fit for purpose […]

Open Access Legislation in Mexico Signed by President Enrique Peña Nieto

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has signed legislation to allow free access to scientific and academic works made possible by public funding. According to the President’s statement, the legislation will “create the National Repository of Open Access to Scientific Information Resources, Technology and Innovation, Quality and Social and Cultural Interest, which will be available for the whole […]

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Report: Freedom of Expression on the Internet

Last December, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression published the report Freedom of Expression on the Internet. The report, authored by Rapporteur Catalina Botero Marino, warned that copyright protection “cannot be pursued in a way that chills creativity or the free exchange of information on the Internet.” It […]