Stories about Intellectual Property
Kenya’s corporate, NGO and public sectors keep violating copyright laws on image rights
Lawsuits for copyright violations against organisations in Kenya’s private and public sectors have been increasing. So has the appropriation of images from current and former employees and customers.
Mexico's new copyright law allows censorship of online content, rights advocates warn
The Mexican chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation warned that the approved changes "criminalize the act of publishing" and "legalize acts of violating the fundamental and constitutional rights..."
Indians Ask: Is Visiting a Torrent Site Really A Crime?
"Thousands of cases pending, criminals roaming scott free. That's fine. Lets arrest people who download #torrents"
New Ukrainian Draft Bill Seeks Extrajudicial Blocking for Websites Violating Copyright
A new bill in the Ukrainian parliament wants to replace the common pre-court notice and takedown procedure for copyright violations online with a faster blocking mechanism bypassing the courts.
Arrrrrr! Putin's New Internet Advisor Tied to Online Piracy
Vladimir Putin's new Internet advisor is known as a hardliner against foreign online resources that break Russian law. Now German Klimenko has been tied to a questionable torrent tracker.
Russia's Internet Censor Threatens New YouTube Block
Roscomnadzor says the latest block, spurred by uploaded unauthorized copies of two Russian TV shows, may make all of YouTube unavailable to some RuNet users at the end of July.
Netizen Report: Rights at Risk Under Trans-Pacific Trade Deal
The TPP battle continues, China’s “Weibo Inquisition” stumbles on a robot mix-up, and a pro-Kremlin think tank launches a “demon” social media monitoring system.
Lost in the Web: Navigating the Legal Maze Online
Media lawyer and human rights expert Nani Jansen gives an overview of censorship and online speech regulation across the globe.
Russia Will Deploy “Digital Fingerprinting” to Enforce Copyright Online
A new intellectual property register, based on the principle of digital fingerprinting, is in the works in Russia to track and protect copyrighted files online.
The Russian Internet is Not Free. A New Tax Might Make it Even Worse.
The Russian government is now considering its own variant of an Internet tax, and wants to make all Russian Internet users pay for consuming copyrighted content online.
China's Censorship Authorities Are Not Fans of Foreign TV
Two popular subtitling sites closed their doors at the behest of Chinese authorities. Netizens and TV fans are angry about the decision.
Spain on a Downward Spiral? New Law May Destroy the Digital Commons
Linking is what made the Web what is today -- restricting this function poses a threat to the very nature of the open Internet.
Viral Video of Deputy PM Triggers Cyber Assault in Serbia
Websites were blocked, servers attacked, and Twitter accounts hijacked in Serbia last weekend after a video mocking the Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic went viral.
“Lesbianism” and “War Games”: Russian Internet Censorship Continues
Russian website Looo.ch was presumably blocked for hosting an art project: two multimedia "textbooks" titled "Homosexuality for Children" and "Lesbianism for Children," which are meant to be a "satire of Russian homophobia."
MERCOSUR and the Future of the Internet in Latin America
Last Friday, Latin American government leaders issued a strong statement against the mass surveillance of their citizens by the US government at an emergency meeting of MERCOSUR. Activists, academics and NGOs from Latin America wrote an open letter to the regional alliance, inviting leaders to consult with civil society in building human rights-protective Internet policies for the region.
Taiwan: Internet Policy Reforms Spark Fears of Censorship
Since this spring, the Taiwanese government has proposed multiple policy reforms that have sparked concerns of Internet censorship among Taiwanese netizens. Some are comparing these amendments to Chinese-style speech control, while others have observed the influence of the United States behind the legislation.
Orphaned in US, SOPA Finds Home in Russia
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.
VIDEO: How the Trans-Pacific Partnership Could Hurt Internet Users
A new animated video explains how the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a massive trade agreement being negotiated by the United States and ten governments from around the Pacific region, could have alarming consequences for Internet users.
Copyright Amendment Could Bring Web Filter System to Taiwan
Many Taiwanese believe that a recent proposed copyright amendment put forward by the government is a setback for democracy. The amendment would provide legal ground for ISP-level blocking of websites that violate copyright restrictions.
Peruvians To President: Our Digital Rights Are Non-Negotiable
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.
