Must Reads

• Nokia Criticizes ACTA Substance and Process

  Nokia's global director of brand protection has published a critical column on ACTA in the World Trademark Review (sub required).  The column says that ACTA is unnecessarily broad and that by excluding key countries from the negotiations, those countries "are practically forced into a position of opposition." Aug.04/10Comments (0)

• SAC Renews Calls for Legalized Downloading With Levies

  The SAC's Eddie Schwartz has an op-ed in the Straight, renewing the call for the legalization of downloading in return for a monthly ISP levy. Aug.04/10Comments (1)

• Copyright Bill Disturbs Rights Balance Between Creators and Users

  Jenna Wilson and Sangeetha Punniyamoorthy, IP lawyers with Dimock Stratton LLP in Toronto, argue in the Lawyers Weekly that "Anti-circumvention provisions could be implemented in the Copyright Act without significantly disturbing the balance between users and creators in the way Bill C-32 does." Aug.03/10Comments (2)

• NY Times, LA Times Both Approve New U.S. Digital Lock Exemptions

  The NY Times and LA Times have both published masthead editorials approving the new digital lock exemptions announced last week in the U.S.
  Aug.03/10Comments (1)

• Jaszi on the DMCA Exemptions

  Peter Jaszi provides a great review of how the U.S. DMCA exemption process has evolved for the better. Aug.03/10Comments (0)

• Civil Society Groups Warn on ACTA and Access To Medicines

  Civil society groups have written to the European Commission warning about the impact of ACTA on access to medicines. The letter cites numerous concerns based on the July leaked text.  The next meeting will be a private meeting in August between the EU and the US as they attempt to sort out their differences on the scope of the treaty. The next round is scheduled for September in Japan. Jul.29/10Comments (0)

• University of Ottawa Press Launches Open Access Collection

  The University of Ottawa Press has launched a new open access collection, making 36 books available as free downloads.  The books will continue to be available for sale in paper form. Jul.28/10Comments (1)

• Industry Canada on US IP Watch List

  An Industry Canada spokesperson on the validity of the USTR Special 301 list:
  
  "Canada does not recognize the validity of the Special 301 process, which relies on industry allegations rather than empirical evidence and analysis."
  
  Note that the article says I said that Canada did not need to pass anti-circumvention laws in order to comply with the WIPO Internet treaties.  As anyone who had read my stuff knows, that is not my position.  There is no doubt that anti-circumvention rules are needed to comply.  The issue is the degree of flexibility within those provisions, not whether provisions are needed. Jul.28/10Comments (2)

• Next ACTA Meeting "Intercessional Meeting" Not Formal Round

  David Hammerstein reports that the next series of ACTA talks will be an "intercessional meeting" in Washington starting on August 16, 2010.  The talks will not be treated as a formal round, which has the effect of decreasing transparency since no agenda or statement will be released. Jul.27/10Comments (0)

• British Library on Copyright: Help or Hindrance?

  The British Library has released a new report that includes a dozen short contributions reflecting on whether copyright helps or hinders from a research perspective.  The contributions include several suggestions for extending the British fair dealing provision. Jul.26/10Comments (3)