A few weeks ago I posted a blog about a lawsuit filed by the Vancouver Aquarium against film-maker Gary Charbonneau for copyright infringement. Charbonneau had made a film critical of the Aquarium’s cetacean (whale, porpoise and dolphin) rehabilitation program, in which he had used, without permission, copyrighted material from the Aquarium’s website in his film. The Aquarium sued for damages and sought an injunction compelling Charbonneau to remove the film from his website, and restraining its publication elsewhere, such as on Youtube. Continue reading “A Whale of a (Copyright) Tale: An Update”
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The Costs and Benefits of Copyright: Getting the Facts Straight
Last week I wrote about the exaggerated and wildly inaccurate claims made by opponents of copyright term extension in Canada regarding the supposed economic losses to the Canadian economy of extending the term of protection from 50 to 70 years. Continue reading “The Costs and Benefits of Copyright: Getting the Facts Straight”
The TPP and Copyright Term Extension: What is the true cost to Canada?
Photo credit: pixabay.com
The Trans-Pacific Partnership seeks to provide greater uniformity and harmonization of regulations among its members as a means of reducing regulatory barriers and facilitating trade. Continue reading “The TPP and Copyright Term Extension: What is the true cost to Canada?”
Copyright Reform: Don’t Play Fast and Loose with Copyright Exceptions
On March 4 another attempt in Hong Kong’s never-ending saga to amend its Copyright Ordinance to bring it into the 21st Century failed with the government announcing that it was withdrawing the Bill after weeks of discussion, debate and protests. Continue reading “Copyright Reform: Don’t Play Fast and Loose with Copyright Exceptions”
Hijacking the Special 301 Process: We will all suffer the consequences
It’s Special 301 season again. This is the time of the year when the US Trade Representative’s Office (USTR) conducts its annual Special 301 reviews on the policies and practices of foreign governments regarding whether they deny adequate and effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights, and whether there is denial of fair and equitable market access for US products that rely upon IP rights. Continue reading “Hijacking the Special 301 Process: We will all suffer the consequences”
A Whale of a Tale…a Copyright Tale
The treatment of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) arouses strong emotions, as evidenced by the film Blackfish, the story of Tilikum, literally the killer whale, or The Cove, the film that turned the spotlight on Japan’s bloody annual dolphin hunt. Continue reading “A Whale of a Tale…a Copyright Tale”
“Happy Birthday” and all that: What does the “Happy Birthday” decision prove when it comes to copyright law?
News of Warner/Chappell’s US$14 million settlement of the “Happy Birthday” copyright settlement made headlines world wide. It even made my local paper—and not much world news does. It is a story that everyone can relate to. Continue reading ““Happy Birthday” and all that: What does the “Happy Birthday” decision prove when it comes to copyright law?”