Reports from the UK indicate that the number of proposed reforms to the UK Digital Economy Bill has hit 299, indicative of considerable disagreement within the House of Lords over the bill.
Articles by: Michael Geist
Shutting Down Yes Men Trades One Hoax for Another
Appeared in the Toronto Star on January 11, 2010 as Ottawa Pulls Its Own Internet Hoax Last month, the Canadian delegation at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen found itself targeted by the Yes Men in a widely publicized hoax. The well-known activists satirized the Canadian government’s position on the […]
Untouchable? A Canadian Perspective on the Anti-Spam Battle
geistuntouchable.pdf
French Report Recommends New Tax on Google
A French report has recommended instituting a new "Google tax" to support the music and publishing industries. The recommendation calls for a levy on all revenue generated from click-through advertising.
Legislators Worldwide Asking Questions About ACTA
Legislators around the world are demanding more information on the secret Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. French Deputy Nicolas Dupont-Aignan raised ACTA questions in the National Assembly late last year, expressing concerns about a global three-strikes and you're out approach, increased costs for medicines, and the lack of transparency associated with the process.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden goes even further in a letter to the USTR this week that seeks answers to nearly a dozen questions about ACTA. Wyden asks about:
- possible constraints on domestic U.S. law reforms
- ensuring ACTA does not interfere with public health flexibilities in TRIPs
- the definition of counterfeit
- concerns about the inclusion of patents within ACTA
- the role of ISPs in ACTA
- whether increased monitoring of subscriber usage is envisioned by ACTA
- the privacy impact of ACTA
- details on border measures provisions
- third party liability for IP infringement
- possible commitments worldwide to comply with the DMCA
Wyden is not the first U.S. senator to raise questions about ACTA. Last year, Senators Bernie Sanders and Sherrod Brown also wrote to the USTR as did Senators Pat Leahy and Arlen Specter in 2008.
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