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Archive for December, 2010
Wikileaks ACTA Cables Reveal Concern With U.S. Secrecy Demands
European countries are likely to ask for a slowdown in negotiations because of opposition to the EU commission’s involvement in negotiating portions of the treaty, disagreements over the confidentiality level of the negotiations, and the absence of geographical indications from the agreement.
The official also noted opposition among member states with the European Commission negotiating criminal matters and ongoing frustration with the level of secrecy associated with ACTA that made it impossible to properly consult stakeholders:
The level of confidentiality in these ACTA negotiations has been set at a higher level than is customary for non-security agreements. According to Mazza, it is impossible for member states to conduct necessary consultations with IPR stakeholders and legislatures under this level of confidentiality. He said that before the next round of ACTA discussions, this point will have to be renegotiated.
The official characterized ACTA as “TRIPS Plus” and noted (correctly) that geographic indications was likely to become a major sticking point.
Bell Pays $1.3 Million To Settle Do-Not-Call Violations
The fact that Bell was the target is significant for at least two reasons. First, Bell administers the do-not-call list under contract. By targeting the company, it sends the message that no one is above the law. Second, as I wrote last year, Bell was seemingly the top source of complaints among reputable companies:
UK, Ireland Conduct Studies on Fair Use Copyright Reform
The UK and Ireland are both engaged in reviews of intellectual property laws with an emphasis on fair use reforms. The UK study, focusing on innovation and economic growth, can be found here. Information on the Irish plans here.
Federal Court Awards PIPEDA Damages
Slaw reports that a federal court judge has awarded $5,000 in damages to a self-represented applicant for violations of PIPEDA, relating to an inaccurate credit report.