WIPO webcasting Treaty Update
Thanks to Seth Johnson for forwarding an email with the following link, published by Manon Ress.
As I mentioned in my previous post on the WIPO webcasting Treaty, I think my favorite excerpt is from Sherwin Siy:
"...Adding a new intellectual property right will add a new layer wih a new ownership. It will block flow of information even when the copyright owners agree. Would be problematic for fair use and public domain works. The US law has an anti signal theft approach and has shown that it is an effective approach. Also mandatory limitations and exceptions are part of US national interest. We have fair use, we have first sale. And these new rights would not account for that. Regarding the example of icrave tv, and other pirate station, they are brought down very quickly. So it is an effective regime."
The "new intellectual property right" is what I referred to as the "broadcaster's right" in my previous post.
I'm generally satisfied with the feedback given at the roundtable.
Now this is the kicker for me, and makes me much less concerned with the WIPO casting treaty. (Note that when I started watching this treaty, all broadcasting - specifically "webcasting" - was included in the language.)
From: http://www.cptech.org/blogs/wipocastingtreaty/2006/10/who-are-new-beneficiaries-of-proposed.html
"... “Broadcasting” shall not be understood as including transmissions over computer networks; ... " and
" ... It is proposed that “transmissions over computer networks” be excluded from “broadcasting” in order to make clear that computer network transmissions, even when transmitted by wireless means, are not intended to qualify as broadcasting. "
Notice the beads of sweat are no longer on my brow. 