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International Free Speech Representatives Issue Joint Declaration on Expression and the Internet

The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media, the Organization of American States (OAS) Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) Special […]

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June 22, 2011 Comments are Disabled News

“A Great Moment for the Free Flow of Information”

Google’s Public Policy Blog comments on the recent UN Report on freedom of expression and the Internet.

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June 22, 2011 Comments are Disabled News

Creators’ Access Copyright on AC’s 2010 Financial Statements

“Revenue is dropping and expenses are rising. And expenses have risen 22.5% in four years.”

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June 22, 2011 2 comments News

Is Internet Access A Human Right?: The Implications for the Rules of Access

Given the critical role it plays in communication, culture, and commerce, most people now recognize the importance of Internet access. My weekly technology law column (Toronto Star version, homepage version) notes a new report for the United Nations Human Rights Council takes Internet access a step further, however, characterizing it as a human right.

The report, written by Frank La Rue, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression (an internationally regarded human rights expert who was once nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize), took the political world by storm when it was released several weeks ago. 

The report explored the need to ensure that citizens have Internet connectivity and also the rules associated with that access. As a result, it was highly critical of policies that block access to content, threaten to cut off Internet access due to allegations of copyright infringement, and fail to safeguard online privacy.

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June 21, 2011 136 comments Columns

Search Engine Focuses on Amazon One-Click Patent

Jesse Brown’s Search Engine focuses on the Amazon one-click patent case, which heads to the Federal Court of Appeal this week. Jeremy Morris, a terrific post-doc at the University of Ottawa, provides the analysis.

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June 21, 2011 Comments are Disabled News