Stories about Intellectual Property

Orphaned in US, SOPA Finds Home in Russia

  17 June 2013

America’s controversial Stop Online Piracy Act is back—and it’s poised to become law in a matter of weeks. SOPA, however, isn’t coming to the US, where a wide coalition defeated the legislation in January 2012. A law that creates similarly harsh penalties for online copyright violations is on the cusp of finding a home in Russia.

Peruvians To President: Our Digital Rights Are Non-Negotiable

  12 May 2013

Peruvian NGOs have launched a campaign asking President Ollanta Humala Tasso to set clear, non-negotiable limitationss to ensure that Peruvians' fundamental rights in the TPP are respected. The treaty could threaten Internet user's rights to free expression and access to information online, increase controversial aspects of Peruvian copyright law, and restrict the ability of Peru's Congress to engage in domestic law reform to meet the evolving IP needs and realities of Peruvian citizens and their growing technology sector.

South Korean Politician Moves to Repeal Biased Copyright Law

  28 March 2013

On Friday, South Korea's National Assembly will meet with supporters and opponents of the country's "three strikes" law, including Assembly Member Mr. Choi Jae-Cheon, who has moved to repeal provisions of the law that allow authorities to disable a person's web service account or shut down his or her website for violating copyright regulations.

Understanding Free and Open Source Software

  26 January 2013

We received an email from Richard M. Stallman (RMS), after publishing an article about the Egyptian demonstration calling for the government to adopt Free Software. Tarek Amr digs deeper into open source software and arguments in its favor in this first post of a two-part series.

Colombia: Copyright Law Rejected by Constitutional Court

  25 January 2013

On Wednesday night, October 23, 2012, the Colombian Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional Articles 13 and 14 of the Law 1520, better known as Lleras Law 2.0. The proposed law provides for sanctions of online copyright infringement, in accordance with the Free Trade Agreement signed between Columbia and the United States.

South Korea: How to Regain Ownership of the Internet

  19 January 2013

On January 11, 2012, Network Neutrality Forum, an alliance of South Korean Internet freedom-concerned civic organizations, hosted a public workshop to discuss ways to increase civic participation in global Internet governance. Our author Jae Yeon Kim participated in the meeting and has this report.

Chile: Why do we Need Exceptions to Copyright?

  7 November 2012

We have already explained how copyright can clash with freedom of expression. But are there legal alternatives in a copyright system that is increasingly restrictive? If all works are always an interpretation of other works, can we have access to them without necessarily becoming “delinquents”? The good news is that yes, we can, although there are limitations. We have released a new video in the #NoTemasaInternet (Don’t fear the Internet) campaign and will soon upload more material about this issue.

Chile: “I’m in Dicom,” New Video on Copyright and Freedom of Expression

  28 September 2012

In this new video from the #NoTemasaInternet (“Don’t fear the Internet) campaign, makers of the movie “I’m in Dicom” tell us why they don’t fear the Internet, describing legal actions taken against them and how, despite these attempts, they trust that their right to freedom of expression will prevail over the copyright claims presented in their case.

Colombia: CELE Analyzes Constitutionality of Bill Lleras 2.0

  29 August 2012

The Center for Studies on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (CELE, according to its Spanish acronym) requested to be considered as “friend of the court” in order to provide inputs for the discussions around the unconstitutionality of Bill 1520, also known as "Bill Lleras 2.0", which reforms the copyright regime in Colombia.

Brazil: Congress to vote on “Bill of Rights” for Internet users

  3 August 2012

The Marco Civil da Internet, a "bill of rights" for Internet users proposed in Brazil, would represent a paramount advance in country's progressive digital policymaking agenda. Officials expect the law will come to a vote on August 8. Rather than framing digital policy as a matter of criminal violations, the law sets rights for users and aims to balance these with the interests of online companies and law enforcement.