Updates…
in cra-briefings40 · June 30, 2007
WIPO INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE
The General Assembly meeting of WIPO was held in Geneva from September 26th to October 3rd. A number of issues were discussed there that have an impact on artists and traditional knowledge in the international arena. It was agreed, for example, to accelerate the schedule of meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) in order to achieve tangible results from its work. The Assembly also pointed to the Voluntary fund that continues to finance the participation of accredited observers from indigenous and local communities. For more information on the discussions please see WIPO press release 462 at www.wipo.org
BROADCASTING RIGHTS AT WIPO
WIPO has agreed to convene a diplomatic conference to finalize a treaty addressing the the rights of broadcasters in the digital age. The conference will take place next November 19th to December 7th. The object will be to conclude a treaty that addresses protections for the rights of broadcasting and cablecasting organizations. Lead up to this meeting, two special sessions of the standing committee on Copyright and Related Rights will be held in January and June 2007. The proposal for the conference can be found in WIPO document SCRR/15/2 at www.wipo.org. For more information on these meeting see WIPO press release 460.
SONY TO LAUNCH AN E-BOOKSTORE
Sony has indicated that it will launch an e-bookstore that will carry about 10,000 titles initially, including those published by Harper Collins and Simon and Schuster. The e-books will sell for approximately 25% less than their paperbacked counterparts. However, readers who would like to take advantage of this service will have to purchase Sony’s e-book reader that retails for approximately $350 US. However, this e-book reader differs from others readers that have been marketed in the past. It is not backlit, meaning that readers will not have to deal with a glaring screen, but rather uses external light sources (e.g. the sun or a table lamp) to make the text visible. For more information on this initiative see www.tinyurl.com/re5o6
RUSSIA TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST ALLOFMP3
In our Focus on Russia (Briefings #*), we reported on a service called AllofMP3 that was allowing virtually limitless downloads of music at a nominal price using a loophole in Russian law. Following pressure from the United States, which indicated it would oppose Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization on the basis that it is unable to control intellectual property protection within its own boarders, the Russian parliament has taken steps which could lead to a shut down of this service. A new law was recently introduced in the Russian parliament that provides for up to five years in prison for copyright violators. Despite the probability of this becoming law, critics are skeptical that it will ever be utilized much less become a key tool for copyright enforcement. For more information on this development see www.arstechnica.com
ACTIVITY AT THE CANADIAN COPYIGHT BOARD
It has been a busy fall for the Canadian Copyright Board. In September the Board heard requests for an alteration in the way music labels and publishers share revenue generated from on-line music. CMRRA and SODRAC proposed that Publishers be paid a rate of 15% of revenues or a maximum of $0.10 per track where music is purchased on line, 8% of gross revenues where the music is purchased through a subscription service, and 5.8% of gross revenues for on demand streaming services. In October, the board heard the latest application from the Canadian Private Copying Collective, which will determine the appropriate blank media tariffs for the period 2005 to 2007. The Copyright Board has also issued a tariff for the Neighbouring Rights Collective of Canada for the use and supply of background music. Issued in November of this year, it is the NRCC’s frist tariff. More information on these proceedings can be found at www.cb-cda.gc.ca