Must Reads

• CBC Sued for Unauthorized Fashion Show Taping

  Nygard International, a women's clothing company, has sued the CBC for unauthorized recording of a fashion show.  The company claims both trespass and copyright infringement. Dec.23/09Comments (5)

• NB Court Orders Production of ISP and Facebook Records

  A New Brunswick court has ordered a plaintiff in a disability insurance claim to obtain “a history of her computer account use” from her ISP and “request” her ISP to generate a record accounting for her FaceBook use. Dec.23/09Comments (3)

• Amazon Kindle DRM Broken

  Amazon's Kindle DRM, which restricts ebooks to the device, has been broken. The hack reportedly allows ebooks stored on the reader to be transferred as PDF files to other devices. Dec.23/09Comments (4)

• WIPO Treaty for the Blind Gains Momentum, But Canada Missing in Action

  The World Intellectual Property Organization is meeting this week with considerable momentum toward work on a Treaty for the Blind that would establish important copyright limitations and exceptions to ensure broader access for the sight disabled.  While the U.S. had emerged as a leader with a surprising shift in approach, attendees report that Canada has been missing in action and maintaining a very low profile.  It's incredibly discouraging to see Canada - which fashions itself as a leading voice that can bridge the gap between delegations - doing so little on such an important issue.  Dec.18/09Comments (2)

• European Telecom Operators Speak Out on ACTA

  The European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association has issued an expert contribution on the ACTA negotiations.  The ETNO expresses concern about the lack of transparency and disproportionate measures under consideration. Dec.18/09Comments (0)

• NZ Government ACTA Briefing Posted Online

  The recent New Zealand government ACTA briefing materials have been posted online.  The powerpoint presentation confirms widely known information, but fails to shed new light on the agreement. Dec.18/09Comments (1)

• B.C. Musician Upset Over VANOC's Control of Song Rights

  A B.C. musician has voiced her objection to VANOC's demands that she sign away all her rights in order for the Olympic organization to even consider her song for use during the upcoming Games.  After submitting the song, organizers responded with a contract requring her to give up ownership and royalties before they would listen to the song. Dec.17/09Comments (13)

• Court Rules Bell Must Remove "Most Reliable" Network Ad Claims

  The CBC reports that a B.C. judge has ordered Bell Mobility to stop advertising claims that it runs Canada's most reliable network. Dec.17/09Comments (1)

• Linking Ottawa Record Seller Case With CRIA $6 Billion Class Action

  As a follow-up to the Ottawa record store that pleaded guilty to copyright infringement over 100 CDs, the store owner's lawyer makes the connection between CRIA bringing a case against thes store owner while facing a $6 billion class action lawsuit for failing to pay artists. Dec.17/09Comments (10)

• Cogeco Changes Broadband Ad Claims Following Competition Bureau Concerns

  Cogeco has changed some its broadband advertising claims following concerns raised by the Competition Bureau.  The Bureau found that Cogeco had claimed that its services were the fastest "without having based such claims on fair comparisons." Dec.16/09Comments (3)