COPYCENSE

“The subject of an ongoing series of discussions between the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), broadcasters, and representatives from a variety of nations, the WIPO Broadcast Treaty carries the promise of standardizing how certain types of intellectual property are treated around the world. It also presents the ominous threat of granting a powerful 50-year right of control to anyone who first broadcasts audio or video content.

“A video featuring comments on the WIPO treaty by U.S. Copyright Office head Marybeth Peters sheds some light on the fact that, although U.S. broadcasters would love to see the additional control granted to them, at least some people in the government are not necessarily in agreement on the issue, and the topic is not yet decided.

“If you’ve ever posted any kind of sound and video on the Internet, you could be affected by this provision of the Broadcast Treaty, should it be adopted.”

ArsTechnica. Broadcast Treaty Has Potential to Grant Unwarranted “Protections.” Feb. 22, 2006.

See also:

Electronic Frontier Foundation. WIPO Broadcasting Treaty. No date.

CopyCense™: K. Matthew Dames on the intersection of business, law and technology. A business venture of Seso Digital LLC.