- EU - Software patents limited by European Parliament vote +/-
(Out-law) The European Parliament has approved a controversial proposal for a Directive on the patentability of computer-implemented inventions, but only after making amendments to ensure that patents would not be issued for 'actual software.' The draft, which seeks to harmonise Europe's rules, passed by 361 votes to 157, with 28 abstentions. Software patent limits 'go too far' and Patents directive wins European Parliament OK (ZDNet UK). See EP amendments, Report A5-0238/2003 (Arlene McCarthy) and Legislative history. Debate and result of the vote (EP Daily Notebook).
- EU - Europaparlament gibt reinen Softwarepatenten einen Korb +/-
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(Heise) Das europäische Parlament hat sich nach heftigen Diskussionen für weit gehende Änderungen an der umstrittenen Richtlinie über die 'Patentierbarkeit Computer-implementierter Erfindungen' ausgesprochen. In der Schlussabstimmung in Straßburg votierten 364 Abgeordnete für deutliche Revisionen an dem Konstrukt und nur 153 dagegen.
- EU - Software patents spur debate +/-
(New York Times) The European Parliament debated a proposal for a pan-European law governing how patents apply to software programs, and with the main political parties apparently evenly divided on the bill, a close vote was expected. The proposal calls for computer-implemented invention patents to be awarded only to ideas that are new, not obvious and have a technical effect. That means that in order to be patented the software must be connected to a technical device that makes or does something new. Opponents of the law say it will stifle innovation by handing too much power to the large, litigious patent holders. Supporters counter that the smaller software developers stand to benefit from being able to protect their inventions with patents.
- US - Film industry joins war on Internet file sharing +/-
(New York Times) If Hollywood executives have learned anything watching their peers in the music business grapple with online file-sharing, it was how not to handle a technological revolution. While the major labels in the music industry squabbled about how best to deal with Internet piracy and failed to develop consumer-friendly ways to buy music online, the movie industry has gone on a coordinated offensive to thwart the free downloading of movies before it spins out of control. Next month the industry will begin promoting a "stealing is bad" message in schools, teaming up with Junior Achievement to sponsor an hour-long class for middle-school students on the history of copyright law and the evils of piracy. The class will include games like "Starving Artist," in which students pretend to be musical acts whose music is downloaded without payment from the Internet, and a crossword puzzle called "Surfing for Trouble.
- US - Love May Fade, But Trademark is Forever +/-
(bIPlog) Copyright has an enddate, even if it's way past the author's death. But Trademark? Dewey's like a Tiffany Diamond® and possibly better. Because Dewey just keeps on paying. The Library Hotel is based on the theme of the Dewey Decimal System, so you know, floor eight is about erotic lit, seven is performing arts, just like those in the 800 and 700 series in the library. Anyway, the hotel used the Dewey system for their theme, and well, now lawyers are involved, suing for Trademark infringement.
- US - Recording Industry Withdraws Music Sharing Lawsuit +/-
(EFF) Seven major record labels dismissed charges of copyright infringement leveled at a 65-year-old educator, artist, and grandmother from Massachusetts. Sarah Ward was one of 261 individuals sued by the recording industry for allegedly sharing copyrighted music using peer-to-peer (P2P) filesharing systems. What was the problem? The recording industry charged Ward with sharing songs using the KaZaA filesharing software, but she owns only a Macintosh computer which cannot run KaZaA.
- 2003-10-14 EU, Brussels - Next Generation Networks and Convergence of Numbering, Naming and Addressing +/-
(Europa) On 14 October 2003, the European Commission will hold workshops in Brussels on two independent studies for the Commission. In the morning, Siticom/Devoteam and Cullen International will present the findings of their study on the regulatory implications of Next Generation Networks and other developments in electronic communications (executive summary; full report). In the afternoon, Political Intelligence will present its work on the policy implications of convergence of numbering, naming and addressing (executive summary; full report). Programme for the day. The workshops are open but pre-registration is required.
- 2003-11-13 US, New York - The State of Play: Law, Games, and Virtual Worlds +/-
(NYLS) A Conference sponsored by Institute for Information Law and Policy at New York Law School and Information Society Project at Yale Law School, to be held at New York Law School in New York City, November 13-15, 2003. This interdisciplinary conference will examine the state of play today in an effort to understand the phenomenon of digital games and the virtual worlds they create and to discuss the complex social, psychological, and legal issues to which they give rise. Registration.
- 2003-11-20 DE, Berlin - The Internet in 2004: Safe or Just Safer? +/-
(INHOPE) A major one-day international conference called "The Internet in 2004:Safe or Just Safer? - an INHOPE Initiative" in the Grand Hotel Esplanade in Berlin on 20 November 2003. The INHOPE inaugural one-day conference will create an exciting forum and target an audience representing the areas of law enforcement, child welfare, Internet Service Providers (ISP's) and the interested parents of children all eager for 'frank talk.' This conference will demonstrate the importance of protecting people's rights, especially childrens'; preventing victimization through consumer education; promote a network linking the experts and specialists in the field of sexual exploitation and online illegal content and enable the expansion of the INHOPE network to new and diverse stakeholders.
- 2003-12-02 BE, Brussels - The Broadband Revolution takes shape +/-
(Forum Europe) European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association (ETNO) second annual conference. Concert Noble, Brussels, Belgium. Erkki Liikanen will be a keynote speaker at this event. Fabio Colasanti, European Commission, Director General for Information Society and a panel of high-level experts & specialists will also take part in this one day conference focusing on three key issues: 1) Are winners emerging in the race to develop new business models? The relationship between content & infrastructure providers 2) Has the new regulatory framework contributed to the development of broadband? The conditions to deliver broadband (multi-platform competition) 3) Are the Broadband strategies on target to meet the Lisbon process objectives? What is being done at member state level to promote its development?
- 2004-01-30 SE, Stockholm - WHOLES - A Multiple View of Individual Privacy in a Networked World +/-
(Swedish Institute of Computer Science) WHOLES - A Multiple View of Individual Privacy in a Networked World. Stockholm, Sweden, January 30-31, 2004. With this workshop, we seek to explore interdisciplinary approaches to helping individuals in managing their privacy in the context of emerging information technologies. The workshop will explore privacy in the intersection of information technologies, law, political choices, public opinions, etc. We are particularly interested in usability and applicability aspects of this theme. Potential participants need to submit a short paper of 5-7 pages describing ongoing research in an area within the scope of the workshop. Only authors of accepted submissions will be invited to participate at the workshop. Please submit your contribution no later than October 31, 2003 by email to markus.bylund@sics.se.