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

Alternative Copyright Reform Bill Introduced in the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies

While the Ministry of Culture’s much-talked about, controversial copyright reform bill has yet to reach the Brazilian National Congress, a deputy from the Partido dos Trabalhadores, Nazareno Fonteles, has jumped the gun with his own take on the subject. Bill 3133/2012, introduced February 7th in the Chamber of Deputies, is not exactly a new proposal. It […]

Canada’s bid to join TPP threatens access for blind, print disabled

There is a danger that, in Canada’s quest to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), Canada may cede whatever leadership it has gained in the field of progressive copyright provisions. Canada’s Bill C-11, the proposed “Copyright Modernization Act”, includes provisions that would allow people who are blind and print disabled to circumvent Technological Protection Measures(TPMs) […]

February 20, 2012

Infojustice Roundup Intellectual Property and the Public Interest Canada’s Bid to Join TPP Threatens Access for Blind, Print Disabled [by Sara Bannerman] There is a danger that, in Canada’s quest to join the TPP, Canada may cede whatever leadership it has gained in the field of progressive copyright provisions. Canada’s Bill C-11, the proposed “Copyright […]

More European Government Officials Do Not Want to Ratify ACTA

Last week, more European government officials signaled that they would refuse or delay ratification of the Anticounterfeiting Trade Agreement. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a news conference that Poland would not move to ratify it, saying “The ACTA is an attempt to protect copyright, but the freedom sacrificed is too high a price to […]

Spanish Supreme Court to Review Sinde Law

The Spanish Supreme Court has agreed to review the Sinde Law, which the Association of Web Users has challenged as unconstitutional. The Sinde Law creates a government commission to review allegations of copyright infringement, which can order internet service providers to block access to websites hosting infringing content. The Association of Web Users argue that […]

“Copy Culture” Presentation at the O’Reilly Tools of Change Conference

With the takedown of Library.nu (formerly Gigapedia), the major US and UK publishers are joining the war on file sharing. This is a subject we’ll be paying a lot of attention to in the next couple years. Coincidentally, I gave a talk more or less on this issue at the O’Reilly Tools of Change conference […]