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Pinned Posts in PinterestThe New Zealand tribunal responsible for copyright graduated response cases has issued its first decision. The tribunal ordered an individual to pay $616.57, which included $6.57 for three songs, $50.00 for notice fees, $200 for the application fee, and a $360 deterrent fee ($120 per song). Most striking is that […]
Post Tagged with: "new zealand"
New Zealand Angry Over US IP Watch List
Add New Zealand to the growing list of countries upset over this year’s USTR Special 301 list. Opposition politicians and independent academics view the placement as gearing up for the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations and an attempt to increase drug prices in the country.
Wikileaks on New Zealand Copyright: US Funds IP Enforcement, Offers to Draft Legislation
This week I published multiple posts Wikileaks cables revelations on the U.S. lobbying pressure on Canadian copyright including attempts to embarrass Canada, joint efforts with lobby groups such as CRIA, and secret information disclosures from PCO to U.S. embassy personnel (posts here, here, here, here, here, and here). Wikileaks has also just posted hundreds of cables from U.S. personnel in New Zealand that reveal much the same story including regular government lobbying, offers to draft New Zealand three-strikes and you’re out legislation, and a recommendation to spend over NZ$500,000 to fund a recording industry-backed IP enforcement initiative. Interestingly, the cables regularly recommend against including New Zealand on the Special 301 list, despite the similarities to Canadian copyright law that always garner vocal criticism.
NZ Govt Copyright Leak: Doubts Value of WIPO Internet Treaties, Supports Flexible Digital Lock Rules
New Zealand is one of several countries currently negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, a regional trade deal that the U.S. would like to see include a major chapter on intellectual property (Canada has been excluded from the talks). A new leak [PDF] of the New Zealand government’s position on the IP chapter is revealing on several levels, most notably for its criticism of the WIPO Internet treaties and the attempts to limit existing flexibilities on digital locks. According to the leaked document:
Talks on Secret Copyright Treaty Spring a Leak
Appeared in the Toronto Star on April 12, 2010 as Talks on Secret Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty Spring a Leak Negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement resume today in Wellington, New Zealand, with Canada, the United States, the European Union, and a handful of other countries launching the eighth round of talks. […]
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Recent Columns
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September 17, 2018 
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July 17, 2018
Unpacking Canada’s IP Strategy: Countering IP Abuse, Addressing IP Administration and Removing IP Barriers to Innovation
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