The European Union has formally ratified the WIPO Internet treaties. While critics of Canadian copyright law will no doubt use the move to argue that Canada has fallen behind on copyright reform, it is worth noting that: (1) Canada has twice introduced legislation designed to do the same; (2) the European national implementations show a wide range of exceptions, opening the door to a "made-in-Canada" WIPO approach; (3) for all the claims that Canada is years behind, the EU ratification arrived today.
EU Ratifies the WIPO Internet Treaties
December 14, 2009
Share this post
One Comment

Law Bytes
Episode 250: Wikimedia’s Jan Gerlach on the Risks and Challenges with Digital Policy Reform
byMichael Geist

November 17, 2025
Michael Geist
November 10, 2025
Michael Geist
November 3, 2025
Michael Geist
October 27, 2025
Michael Geist
October 20, 2025
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Recent Posts
Canadian Government Introduces New Stablecoin Act as Part of Budget Implementation Legislation
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 250: Wikimedia’s Jan Gerlach on the Risks and Challenges with Digital Policy Reform
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 249: The Debate Over Canada’s AI Strategy – My Consultation Submission and Appearance at the Canadian Heritage Committee
How the Liberal and Conservative Parties Have Quietly Colluded to Undermine the Privacy Rights of Canadians
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 248: Mark Surman on Why Canada’s AI Strategy Should Prioritize Public AI Models

Associate Professor of Law, KIIT Law School, KIIT University, India
This a welcome step taken by the European Union.The other countries who have not yet recognized the two important internet treatises eg. WIPO performance and phonograms treaty and WIPO copyright treaty should also ratify these treaties without further delay.