Australian court finds Optus cloud-based TV recording service non-infringing
The Federal Court of Australia has ruled that Optus does not infringe copyright in the TV programs recorded by users of its ’TV Now’ cloud-based recording service. In Singtel Optus v National Rugby League Investments, Rares J found that a recording of a TV show using a cloud-based service is made by the individual user of the service, ... Read the full post ...
US Anti-piracy Bills postponed, copyright infringers charged and jailed
The US Department of Justice has trumpeted the bringing of charges against the principals of one online copyright infringement site, and the jailing of the founder of another, at the same time as voting on the controversial US Anti-piracy legislation was postponed. Megaupload.com and seven individuals associated with it have been charged with criminal copyright offences ... Read the full post ...
Australian ISPs propose “Notice and Discovery” scheme for infringing customers
Five major Australian Internet Service Providers have released details of a proposed scheme for assisting copyright owners to enforce their rights against customers downloading infringing material. Under the so-called “Notice and Discovery” scheme, the ISPs will send, first, an “education notice” and then, subsequently, “warning notices” to customers whose IP addresses have been associated with ... Read the full post ...
EU announces “No-Disconnect” strategy to promote global Internet freedom
The European Union’s Commissioner for the Digital Agenda has announced a “No-Disconnect” strategy, to support cyber-activists living under authoritarian regimes. According to the Commission’s press release, the “No-Disconnect” strategy will: Develop and provide technological tools to enhance privacy and security of people living in non-democratic regimes. Educate and raise awareness of activists about the opportunities and ... Read the full post ...
Vanderbilt-Melbourne Global Debate on the future of record labels
The business model for the music recording industry is changing quickly, and the viability of record labels in the new environment is an open question. On November 15, in Nashville, TN, a distinguished panel of business and academic experts will debate the role of record labels in the digital age, and will offer some provocative perspectives ... Read the full post ...
US files WTO request for details of China’s Internet censorship
The United States Trade Representative has used a World Trade Organization process to seek details of China’s policies and processes for censoring Internet content. According to the USTR, “a number of U.S. businesses, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises, have expressed concerns regarding the adverse business impacts from periodic disruptions to the availability of their websites in ... Read the full post ...
Australian consumer watchdog appeals Google AdWords case
The Australian consumer protection authority, the ACCC, has appealed its Federal Court action against Google for misleading or deceiving consumers with AdWords-generated sponsored links. The ACCC sought declarations and injunctions against Google, on the basis that AdWords-generated sponsored links wrongly represented an association or affiliation between the advertiser and the advertiser’s competitor whose name or ... Read the full post ...
Site ‘names and shames’ operators restricting Internet access
Two civil society organisations have launched a website on which users can ‘name and shame’ ISPs restricting access to sites and services. The website, which began on 22 September 2011, permits users to report ‘net neutrality violations’, such as denial of use of VoIP services, and blocking or throttling access to streaming services. The founding organisations, ... Read the full post ...
Australian Senate Committee rejects Bill banning gene patents
The Australian Senate’s Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, by majority, has recommended against adopting legislation that would ban the patenting of genes and other biological materials substantially identical to those existing in nature. While recognising that the Bill may have been “well intentioned”, the Committee concluded that it was not an effective solution ... Read the full post ...
Domain names are personal property says Canadian court
The Ontario Court of Appeal has ruled that a domain name constitutes personal property. As a consequence, an Ontario court has jurisdiction to grant declaratory relief that would circumvent a UDRP action. The domain name registrar Tucows acquired the domain name “renner.com” when it purchased a portfolio of more than 30,000 surname domain names from ... Read the full post ...
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