Archive for May, 2012

Supreme Court Law Review Now Openly Available Online

Osgoode Hall Law School is now publishing the Supreme Court Law Review freely online. The review is the result of annual conference on constitutional cases dating back to 1997.

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May 8, 2012 Comments are Disabled News

Blackout Speakout

Environmental groups in Canada are launching a major online protest against the government’s plans to reform environmental laws as part of its budget implementation bill. Details on the protest – currently planned for June 4th – available here.

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May 8, 2012 2 comments News

New Zealand Wants Canada Out of TPP

The New Zealand government is not supportive of Canada’s entry into the Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations. The NZ concern reportedly involves supply management policies in Canada.

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May 8, 2012 1 comment News

UK Government: Public Access for Publicly Funded Research

David Willetts, the UK Minister of State for Universities and Science, delivered a remarkable speech to the Publishers Association annual general meeting in London last week. Willetts focused on open access and left no doubt of the government’s commitment on the issue:

Our starting point is very simple. The Coalition is committed to the principle of public access to publicly-funded research results. That is where both technology and contemporary culture are taking us. It is how we can maximise the value and impact generated by our excellent research base. As taxpayers put their money towards intellectual enquiry, they cannot be barred from then accessing it. They should not be kept outside with their noses pressed to the window – whilst, inside, the academic community produces research in an exclusive space. The Government believes that published research material which has been publicly financed should be publicly accessible – and that principle goes well beyond the academic community.

Willetts did not shy away from the economic impact on publishers:

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May 7, 2012 4 comments News

EU Commissioner: ACTA Effectively Dead

EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes spoke at a Berlin conference and acknowledged what has become increasingly apparent: ACTA is going to be defeated by the European Parliament. Kroes stated: We have recently seen how many thousands of people are willing to protest against rules which they see as constraining the openness […]

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May 7, 2012 3 comments News