Barry Sookman

Copyright, Intellectual Property, Computer, Internet, e-Commerce Law.

Posts Tagged ‘geist’

Reflections on the liberal roundtable on the digital economy

February 17th, 2010

Last week, Liberal Industry critic Marc Garneau and Heritage critic Pablo Rodriguez hosted a roundtable on the digital economy in Ottawa. There were two panels. One was on our modern digital infrastructure. The other one was on copyright, broadcasting and the Internet. I participated in the copyright roundtable along with representatives from the ESAC, ACTRA, Rogers and Prof. Geist.

I commend Messrs. Garneau and Rodriguez for organizing this event. Developing a strategy for Canada’s digital future is a critical component of ensuring prosperity and opportunities for all Canadians.

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Posted in Copyright, Digital Britain, Fair Dealing, Fair Use, Graduated Response, ISP Liability, Piracy, Presentations, TPMs, Three Strikes, WIPO Treaties

Tags: barry sookman Copyright copyright reform Fair Use geist Graduated Response three strikes fair dealing

Only once more – and then Marry Christmas and Happy New Year to everybody, including Professor Geist and his devoted followers: the 1996 WIPO Diplomatic Conference, the WIPO Treaties and the balance of interests

December 23rd, 2009

Christmas is two days away; I have to concentrate on my eight grandchildren. I am really not in the mood to deal with copyright, and I do not want to read books, articles and blogs about it this year anymore. However, a colleague of mine in Germany (he may not have been in full Christmas mood yet like me) sent me an e-mail asking me to correct somebody’s allegations which he has found obviously untrue (in fact he has used certain adjectives to describe his opinion about those allegations, which, however, I – sticking on the spirit of what is called, at least in my country, the holiday of love – definitely do not want to quote). So, I have visited the source indicated by him, and yes, I have found Professor Geist’s friendly comments about my post politely remarking that I might be wrong about the interpretation of the 1996 WIPO Treaties concerning the coverage of the anti-circumvention provisions. To prove this, he quotes Professor Pamela Samuelson who, on the basis of what happened – at least according to her – at the Diplomatic Conference, states that the Treaties do not obligate Contracting Parties to extend protection against circumvention devices.

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Posted in Copyright, TPMs, WIPO Treaties

Tags: barry sookman copyright reform copyrighyt digital locks geist tpms wct WIPO Treaties

Dr. Ficsor is right; Prof. Geist is wrong about the WIPO Internet Treaties

December 23rd, 2009

Earlier this week, Dr. Ficsor posted a blog inviting Canada to join the international community by ratifying the WIPO Internet Treaties. Dr. Ficsor is an internationally revered copyright scholar and professor and the former Assistant Director General of WIPO. As his posting pointed out, he was also responsible for organizing the preparatory work of the two Treaties, for the 1996 Diplomatic Conference adopting them, and for the first efforts to achieve their adequate implementation, There is no one on the planet who knows more about the treaties or what was intended by them than him.

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Posted in Copyright, TPMs, WIPO Treaties

Tags: barry sookman Copyright copyright reform digital locks ficsor geist tpms wct WIPO WIPO Treaties wppt

Dr. Ficsor: An invitation to Canada to join the international community by ratifying the WIPO Internet Treaties

December 21st, 2009

Geneva, December 21, 2009: An invitation – presented to Canada to join the international community by ratifying and duly implementing the WIPO “Internet Treaties” – that should not be turn down

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Posted in ACTA, Copyright, Piracy, TPMs, WIPO Treaties

Tags: barry sookman canada Copyright copyright reform ficsor geist WIPO WIPO Treaties

Geist inflates pending lists claim to vilify record labels

December 8th, 2009

Prof. Geist is no lover of the recording industry. In fact, he uses every opportunity he gets to slag and demonize it. Like a professional propaganda expert, his attacks use exaggeration, misleading information and half truths to achieve his obvious ends.

Prof. Geist went on a cross country blitz yesterday with his blog, “Canadian Recording Industry Faces $60 Billion Copyright Infringement Lawsuit” and Toronto Star article “Record industry faces liability over `infringement” over the Chet Baker suit, as if something new has happened with the case. In fact, the case was started in August 2008 (not October 2008 as asserted by Prof. Geist). It also hasn’t only been going on “for the past year”, as he claims. Chet Baker isn’t “about to add a new claim to fame”. Despite having started over a year and a half ago, the class action case hasn’t even been certified yet. So why the fervour to publicise the case now?

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Posted in Copyright

Tags: barry sookman chet baker Copyright geist

Fear Mongering and Misinformation Used to Slag ACTA

November 18th, 2009

Last week saw a lot of digital ink spilled over speculation about what the Internet Chapter of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is going to contain. Some opponents of ACTA including Prof. Geist helped to leak the contents of a two page confidential memorandum that contained a written account of an oral report on what was still being negotiated.[i]

Based on this two page preliminary document, ACTA opponents began a frenzied propaganda campaign against ACTA. Prof. Geist led the feverish attack writing articles, blogs, tweets, giving a speech in Washington, and press and radio interviews.[ii]

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Posted in ACTA, Copyright, Counterfeiting, Graduated Response, Piracy, TPMs, Three Strikes

Tags: ACTA barry sookman Copyright copyright reform digital locks geist Graduated Response Three Strikes tpms

Facebook fair for copyright of Canada: replies to professor Geist

February 3rd, 2008

This article responds to claims made by Professor Geist related to the legal protection for technological measures. A link to the article can also be found here.

Facebook Fair Copyright Replies to Prof Geist

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Posted in C-11, Copyright, TPMs, c-32, geist

Tags: anti-circumvention legislation barry sookman Bill C-11 Bill C-32 Bill c-61 Copyright copyright reform digital locks dmca geist tpms