On March 9, 2009, President Obama signed an executive order removing restrictions on federal funding for research involving embryonic stem cells. Prior to the signing, he noted that the Federal government plans to vigorously support scientists who pursue stem cell research. Stem cells are found in almost all multi-cellular organisms and are characterized by their […]
Twitter is a new Internet social networking phenomenon. It is a “service for friends, family, and co-workers, to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?" I have not yet jumped onto the Twitter bandwagon, but perhaps I should. At the very least, I […]
Catherine Bond is a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales, Australia. IceTV Pty Limited v Nine Network Australia Pty Limited [2009] HCA 14 In mid-2008, when the High Court of Australia granted special leave to appeal in the copyright case IceTV Pty Ltd v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd, […]
Jane Ginsburg is Morton L. Janklow Professor of Literary and Artistic Property Law at Columbia Law School and Co-director, Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts. Professor Ginsburg is also a member of IP Osgoode's International Advisory Council. Professor Ginsburg has a new article forthcoming in WORKING WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, Rochelle Cooper […]
A recent article by Professor Emir Mohammed from the University of Windsor Faculty of Law challenges the Continental notion that moral rights, as granted by Canada's Copyright Act, are solely personal rights innate to just “flesh and blood” authors. The article, entitled “Moral Rights and Mortal Rights in Canada”, was published in the April 2009 issue […]
A recent pronouncement by Associated Press (AP) to adopt a more aggressive effort to “fend off copycat competition and “misappropriation” in the dwindling market for timely reporting,” has stirred the online news-outlet community and its players. In his capacity as the CEO of MediaNews Group Inc., and the Chairman of Associated Press board of directors, […]
Sundeep Chauhan is currently Vice-President and General Counsel to the NRCC. The Swedish courts have rendered a landmark verdict against the largest peer-to-peer site in the world. The four men behind Pirate Bay, the Swedish file-sharing site used by an estimated 22 million users to freely exchange copyright protected movies, music, software, and video games, […]
Pamela Samuelson is the Richard M. Sherman ‘74 Distinguished Professor of Law and Information at the University of California at Berkeley and is a member of IP Osgoode's International Advisory Council. Many commentators and policymakers have expressed serious concerns about the exclusionary potency of patents on communications protocols and interface designs for information and communications […]
One of the most prevalent criticisms leveled against China today is the lack of human rights afforded to its citizens. This is particularly so in the area of civil and political rights, where China’s single-party unitary rule has made political prisoners of pro-democracy activists. Western advocacy groups have applied political pressure to convince the Chinese […]
On March 26, 2009, the Queen held a reception for leaders attending the G-20 summit. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were the first dignitaries to meet the Queen. During their private meeting, President Obama and the first lady presented the Queen with a gift. The gift was a personalized iPod - complete with […]