CBC Radio One - Who Owns Ideas?

A recent CBC Radio Ideas feature entitled "Who owns Ideas?" discusses the progression of intellectual property law and specifically copyright law. The host describes a tension in copyright law that has become known as the copyfight, and it's ultimately a dispute about who owns ideas.

CBC has posted a free streaming audio of the show here.

Bill C-61

This issue is press heavy. I am reading the Bill, re-reading it, and enjoying the commentary.

Text of Bill C-61 here.

Great fact sheets here.

Information of the legislative process re a Canadian Bill here.

New Copyright Bill this Summer

Geist reports on his blog that the new Copyright Bill is being introduced Wednesday.

The draft may well circulate before the CSUSA meeting next week.

Orphan works

A great resource for orphan works is the U.S. Copyright Office's page

For a detailed review check out the Statement of Marybeth Peters before the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and IP. The recommendation:

"we recommended a framework whereby a legitimate orphan works owner who resurfaces may bring an action for “reasonable compensation” against a qualifying user. A user does not qualify for the benefits of orphan works legislation unless he first conducts a good faith, reasonably diligent (but unsuccessful) search for the copyright owner"

In Canada, we call them unlocatable copyright owners, an overview of Canadian treatment is on The Copyright Board of Canada's page.

Ringtones Case

I am waiting for the Supreme Courts decision on whether they are going to hear the infamous Ringtones case: CWTA, Telus, Bell v. SOCAN.

In January 2008 The Federal Court of Appeal sided in favor of SOCAN and decided first that transmitting a ringtone file to a cell phone is a "communication" under Copyright law, and second that it is a "communication to the public". This allows SOCAN to collect royalties from wireless companies transmitting the file for this communication right, in addition to the distinct right of "copying" or reproduction.

Insight: Copyright in Canada

A conference on copyright law in Canada, that has some interesting topics on digital copyright issues - click here.

May 12-13, 2008 Old Mill, Toronto.

Plews v. Pausch (Alta. QB)

Date of decision: 2006-08-09

At issue was the difference between an idea and its fixed expression.

An academic supervisor was found to not infringe a student's copyright when writing an article on the student's PhD topic.

Full text of decision here.