US copyright and the hazards of partisan rhetoric
US copyright has been transformed over the last 30 years, with the term of protection soaring and the whole notion of what copyright is for shifting radically. Blogger and former copyright counsel to the US House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary William Patry talks to us about the grave lack of balance in today's situation and why treating copyright as an absolute property right is not only wrong, but dangerous too.
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(08/05/2008)
The government is calling for tough action against so-called 'surrogate' advertising, where companies circumvent the prohibition on ads for tobacco and alcohol by advertising products with the same brand name. While it is not yet clear when and how any ban would be implemented, such a move would severely restrict tobacco and alcohol companies from promoting their products.
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(08/05/2008)
Google has amended its policy for dealing with complaints from trademark owners in relation to potential infringements. From May 5 2008 Google no longer reviews signs or symbols which are keyword triggers and correspond to a third party's alleged trademark.
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(08/05/2008)
The Swedish Supreme Court has issued a controversial decision on moral rights, finding that commercial breaks that are broadcast during televised films infringe the directors' moral rights. Further, the court found that there are only limited circumstances in which such rights can be waived.
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(08/05/2008)
The Court of Appeal has partly allowed the appeal from the High Court decision in Brooker v Fisher. The case concerned Matthew Fisher's claim that he was entitled to half the royalties from exploitation of a recorded version of Procul Harum's 1976 hit single "A Whiter Shade of Pale".
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(08/05/2008)
The Chancery Division of the High Court has rejected a copyright infringement action against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) involving the use of classic Doctor Who villains the Daleks. Although JHP Ltd was found to be the exclusive licensee, the BBC was held to have a complete defence to the claim.
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(08/05/2008)
A Boston judge has held that the mere making available of music files for download online does not constitute copyright infringement as the defendants may not have known that this could allow others to access the files. However, the judge also held that intent need not be proven to establish infringement, so the case will continue.
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