The monthly compilation of IP news items pulled together by VRA colleague Jen Green. Some of these items have already appeared on this list, but much is new... Diane
>X-Google-Sender-Auth: fdda362b9003bcb5 >Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2007 10:13:29 -0500 >Reply-To: Visual Resources Association <VRA-L at LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> >Sender: Visual Resources Association <VRA-L at LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> >From: Jen Green <jengreen at UMN.EDU> >Subject: VRA Intellectual Property Rights News: July - August 2007 >To: VRA-L at LISTSERV.UARK.EDU >List-Help: <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=VRA-L>, > <mailto:LISTSERV at LISTSERV.UARK.EDU?body=INFO VRA-L> >List-Unsubscribe: <mailto:VRA-L-unsubscribe-request at LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> >List-Subscribe: <mailto:VRA-L-subscribe-request at LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> >List-Owner: <mailto:VRA-L-request at LISTSERV.UARK.EDU> >List-Archive: <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=VRA-L> >X-ELNK-Received-Info: spv=0; >X-ELNK-AV: 0 >X-ELNK-Info: sbv=0; sbrc=.0; sbf=00; sbw=000; > >IPR-In the News? >Compiled by Jen Green, University of Minnesota > > >Blog: "miscellaneous factZ" , produced by the >Rufus Pollock, PhD candidate on the subject of >innovation and IP at the University of >Cambridge, UK, July 9, 2007 ><http://www.rufuspollock.org/archives/198>http://www.rufuspollock.org/archives/198 > >Pollock's comments on his paper Forever and >Minus a Day? Some Theory and Empirics of >Optimal Copyright, recently presented at the >2007 SERCI Congress in Berlin > >Paper Abstract >The optimal level for copyright has been a >matter for extensive debate over the last >decade. This paper contributes several new >results on this issue divided into two parts. In >the first, a parsimonious theoretical model is >used to prove several novel propositions about >the optimal level of protection. Specifically, >we demonstrate that (a) optimal copyright falls >as the costs of production go down (for example >as a result of digitization)and that (b) the >optimal level of copyright will, in general, >fall over time. The second part of the paper >focuses on the specific case of copyright term. >Using a simple model we characterize optimal >term as a function of a few key parameters. We >estimate this function using a combination of >new and existing data on recordings and books >and find an optimal term of around fourteen >years. This is substantially shorter than any >current copyright term and implies that existing >copyright terms are too long. > >Access the full paper at: ><http://www.rufuspollock.org/economics/papers/optimal_copyright.pdf> >http://www.rufuspollock.org/economics/papers/optimal_copyright.pdf > > > > > >US Targets Chinese Music Download Rules >by Bradley Klapper, Associated Press/FoxNews, July 18, 2007 ><http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jul18/0,4670,WTOUSChina,00.html> >http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jul18/0,4670,WTOUSChina,00.html > >The United States is seeking consultations with >China over rules on music downloading and cinema >rights that appear to discriminate against >foreign sound recordings and films, a U.S. trade >official said Wednesday. > >See related topic below: "Baidu may be worst >copyright violator, says Wikipedia" > > > > > >The Open Library Makes Its Online Debut >by Brock Read, The Chronicle of Higher Education: Wired Campus, July 19, 2007 ><http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=2235> >http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=2235 > >"Imagine a library that collected all the >world's information about all the world's books >and made it available for everyone to view and >update," write members of the Internet Archive's >Open Content Alliance. "We're building that >library." >And now the alliance has put a demo version of >that library online. The Open Library is meant >to serve as a vast digital card catalog, and Web >surfers will be able to edit entries, much like >in Wikipedia. The repository will also collect >books in the public domain, a mission that will >bring the library into competition with Google's >much-publicized book-scanning service. > >Additional resources: >Open Content Alliance ><http://www.opencontentalliance.org/> >http://www.opencontentalliance.org/ > >Open Library <http://www.openlibrary.org/>http://www.openlibrary.org/ > > > > >University of Kansas Adopts One-Strike Policy for Copyright Infringement >by Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica, July 20, 2007 ><http://tinyurl.com/ypvnmk> http://tinyurl.com/ypvnmk > >In response to the RIAA and MPAA's campaign >against file-sharing, the University of Kansas >has announced a stringent policy for students >found sharing copyrighted content on the >university network. Students fingered for >file-sharing would be kicked off of the >residence hall network, although they would >still be able to use campus computer labs. > > > > >Retailers Call iPod Levy a 'Tax' >by David George-Cosh, Globe and Mail Update, July 20, 2007 ><http://tinyurl.com/3ac6rx> http://tinyurl.com/3ac6rx > >The fight to tax the iPod is far from over. The >Copyright Board of Canada announced a decision >yesterday rebutting a ruling made by the Federal >Court in 2004 that a private copying levy should >apply to iPods and other digital audio >recorders, beginning in 2008. > >See related topic below: "Copyright Collective May Yet Face the Music" > > > > >Google, Viacom Lawyers Square Off on DMCA >by Nicholas Carlson, InternetNews.com, July 20, 2007 ><http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3690166> >http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3690166 > >Viacom and Google go to court July 27 to decide >which of the two companies should bear the cost >of keeping Viacom's copyrighted content off >YouTube, Google's video-sharing Web site. Viacom >says Google and seeks $1 billion in damages. > >See related topic below: "More Parties Join Google Copyright Lawsuit" > > > > >Musicians' Copyright Pleas Fall on Deaf Ears >by Katie Allen, Guardian Unlimited, July 24, 2007 ><http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2133762,00.html> >http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2133762,00.html > >The music industry has reacted with outrage to >the government's rejection of pleas to extend >the period musicians get royalties from their >tracks beyond the current 50 years. > > > > >Rewriting Copyright with the Swedish Pirate Party >Discussion held at the Hillside Club, Berkeley CA, on Sunday, July 29, 5-7 pm ><http://www.hillsideclub.org> www.hillsideclub.org > >All too often, today's copyright law fails to serve the public interest. >In this discussion, Rick Falkinge of the Swedish >Pirate Party examines some new approaches to >copyright, challenging some of the fundamental >(and unexamined) assumptions about "intellectual >property." He looks at how both creativity and >civil liberties are often stymied by the current >system, and highlights some genuinely new >proposals for change. > >Panel participants included Rick Falkinge, >Pirate Party, Sweden; Karl Fogel, >QuestionCopyright.org; Brad Templeton, >Electronic Frontier Foundation; Tony Falzone, >Fair Use Project, Center for Internet and >Society, >Stanford Law School; Mary Hodder, Dabble; and >Moderator: Jeff Ubois, digital archivist > > > > >WIPO Publishes a Guide on Managing IP for Museums >WIPO Press Release, Geneva, July 31, 2007 ><http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2007/article_0049.html>http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2007/article_0049.html > >Museums, and the broader cultural heritage >community, now have access to a new guide, >commissioned by the World Intellectual Property >Organization (WIPO), to help them use the >intellectual property (IP) system to improve the >management of their collections in the digital >environment. > >The WIPO Guide is now available on-line at: ><http://www.wipo.int/copyright/en/museums_ip/>http://www.wipo.int/copyright/en/museums_ip/. > >A printed version of the Guide will be available >shortly. > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >TorrentSpy Lawyer Battling 'Copyright Extremism' >by Greg Sandoval, CNETNews.com, July 31, 2007 ><http://tinyurl.com/3425pv>http://tinyurl.com/3425pv > >Ira Rothken is technology's answer to the >radical lawyer, Silicon Valley's version of >Johnnie Cochran or William Kunstler. Tech >start-ups sued by media conglomerates for >copyright infringement typically call on >Rothken, a medical researcher turned lawyer. >He's made a name for himself by bucking >entertainment empires and by backing long-shot >copyright cases, such as those involving >RecordTV, ReplayTV, and MP3Board.com. His >efforts have won him praise from the Electronic >Frontier Foundation (EFF), the advocacy group >that has become synonymous with user rights on >the Web. > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > >Content Makers Are Accused of Exaggerating Copyright >by Jacqueline Palank, New York Times, August 2, 2007 ><http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/business/media/02copyright.html?ref=busines> > >http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/business/media/02copyright.html?ref=busines > >An association of computer and communication >companies, including Google, Microsoft and >Yahoo, on Wednesday accused several professional >sports leagues, book publishers and other media >companies of misleading and threatening >consumers with overstated copyright warnings. > > > > > >Raids in 16 States Seek to Thwart Video Game Piracy >Associated Press/New York Times, August 2, 2007 ><http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/business/02raid.html?ref=technology> >http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/02/business/02raid.html?ref=technology > >Federal customs agents raided more than 30 >businesses and homes in 16 states Wednesday, >looking for devices that allow pirated video >games to play on Wiis, PlayStation 2s and Xboxes. > > > > >US Man Sentenced to Two Years on Copyright Violations >by Grant Gross, PC World/Washington Post, August 3, 2007. ><http://tinyurl.com/37kyjk> http://tinyurl.com/37kyjk > >An Illinois man was sentenced to two years in >prison for violating copyright law through the >unauthorized sale of video games on his Web >site, the U.S. Department of Justice announced >late Thursday. > > > > >Baidu May Be Worst Copyright Violator, says Wikipedia >by Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service/Computer World. August 6, 2007 ><http://tinyurl.com/yq8pjn>http://tinyurl.com/yq8pjn > ><http://Baidu.com>Baidu.com Inc., which operates >China's most popular Internet search engine, may >be the worst violator of Wikipedia copyrights, >the chair of the foundation behind popular >online encyclopedia Wikipedia said Sunday, as >she asked the company again to give credit where >credit is due. > > > > >Copyright Filtering Technology Doomed to Failure, Some Critics Say >by Brian Deagon, Investor's Business Daily, August 6, 2007. ><http://tinyurl.com/yovx95> http://tinyurl.com/yovx95 > >AT&T and NBC Universal have both recently >advocated the use of Internet filtering >technology to help weed out pirated content - >movies, TV shows, songs, music videos and more - >accessed for free by Web surfers without >permission of the copyright owners. Repeated >attempts by movie and music industry >representatives to halt the practice aren't >working. > >They've filed thousands of lawsuits against >alleged pirates, to little avail. Piracy is >growing, and the entertainment industry says >it's costing them billions of dollars a year. > > > > >Copyright Collective May Yet Face the Music >by Michael Geist, Toronto Star, August 6, 2007. ><http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/243450> >http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/243450 > >Canada's private copying levy, which adds 21 >cents to the price of every blank CD to >compensate the music industry for personal >copying, has long been a magnet for controversy, >yet few would have anticipated that it would >thrust an overhaul of the Canadian copyright >collective system on to the political agenda. In >light of last month's Copyright Board decision >that re-opens the door to placing a levy of up >to $75 on iPods, however, that is precisely what >could happen. > > > > >More Parties join Google Copyright Lawsuit >Reuters/ Washington Post, August 6, 2007 ><http://tinyurl.com/3c8nz6>http://tinyurl.com/3c8nz6 > >English soccer's Premier League Ltd and music >publisher Bourne & Co said on Monday that eight >more parties have joined their lawsuit charging >Google Inc (GOOG.O) and its YouTube online >service with deliberately encouraging copyright >infringement. The new parties include the >National > >Music Publishers' Association, which is the >largest U.S. music publishing trade association, >the Rugby Football League, the Finnish Football >League Association and author Daniel Quinn. > > > > > >Reverse Engineering Gets the Nod in New Copyright Bill Draft >by Stephen Bell Wellington, Computer World, August 7, 2007 ><http://tinyurl.com/ywgrus> http://tinyurl.com/ywgrus > >Consumers still have reasons to be fearful of >proposed new copyright legislation, but for >inventors and adapters of technology, the >outcome is looking brighter. Consumer champions >have protested that Parliament's Commerce Select >Committee, while upholding format-shifting for >copyright works in new legislation, has also >allowed copyright-owners to contract out of the >law. > > > > >Lawmaker Proposes Piracy Warning >by Dave McNary, Ben Fritz, Variety, August 23, 2007 ><http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970777.html> >http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970777.html > >A leading lawmaker will propose federal >legislation requiring telcos and cable operators >to send Internet subscribers a warning letter if >they access pirated content. Rep. Howard Berman >(D-Los Angeles) disclosed Thursday at a U.S. >Chamber of Commerce antipiracy panel in >Hollywood that he'll introduce the legislation >as early as next month. If enacted, it would >mark a significant change in federal law by >making Internet service providers responsible >for piracy on their networks, not just those who >download or share the content. > > > > > >Open invitation to a special presentation and >discussion of The PLUS Standards with Professor >Jeff Sedlik, President & CEO, PLUS Coalition >MCN Chicago 2007: IP-SIG Meeting Friday, November 9, 5.15pm-6.30pm > >The PLUS Coalition (Picture Licensing Universal >System) is an international non-profit >organization on a mission to simplify and >facilitate the communication of rights >information associated with images. In the >Coalition, a diverse group of stakeholders and >their associations across 26 countries have >worked cooperatively to create PLUS, the Picture >Licensing Universal System. > >PLUS is a comprehensive system of image >licensing standards that exists as a universal >language for the communication of image rights >metadata. The > >Coalition welcomes participation by all >individuals, associations and organizations >engaged in creating, distributing, using and >archiving images. The PLUS standards will allow >museums to better manage, preserve and license >images. MCN holds a seat on the PLUS Board of >Directors (currently filled by Alan Newman), and >all institutions are invited to participate in >the PLUS Museums Committee. > >More info at: ><http://www.useplus.org>www.useplus.org > > >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Many thanks to all of our VRA-IPR members who >are monitoring multiple listservs to make this >IPR news posting possible. Please submit any >comments, questions, or suggestions to Jen Green >at <mailto:jengreen at umn.edu>jengreen at umn.edu. > > >-- >Jen Green >Curatorial Assistant >Digital Collections + Archives >College of Design >University of Minnesota -- Diane M. Zorich 113 Gallup Road Princeton, NJ 08542 USA Voice: 609-252-1606 Fax: 609-252-1607 Email: dzorich at mindspring.com
