Technology

CRTC Gives Rejection With a Silver Lining to Sun News

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has rejected Sun News Network’s request for mandatory carriage, but there is still hope for the beleaguered network.  

EA Loses Battle to Put Athlete’s Likeness in Video Game

In a victory for athletes specifically, and proponents of personality rights generally, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal has ruled against Electronic Arts (EA) in its use of former college quarterback Sam Keller’s likeness in the NCAA Football video game series. This news has costly implications for EA.

Patent Trolls or Patent Heroes? – The Increasing Pressure on Patent Assertion Entities

On July 13, 2013, the New York Times published an article on Erich Spangenberg's business enterprise, IPNav, which is considered to be one of the largest Patent Assertion Entities (“P.A.E.s”) in the world. Analyzing the business model of P.A.E.s is important to understanding the legal limits of these entities.

"The Hopper" Vaults Over Another Requested Injunction

Watching a television program only to have it cut to commercial during a dramatic scene has always been a frustrating, yet accepted, experience for those of us watching primetime television - until now. The Dish Network recently released technology which allows viewers to skip through commercial breaks, much to the dismay of broadcast networks, and […]

The Internet Taxi: Collective Management of Copyright and the Making Available Right, after the Pentalogy

Just after the adoption of Bill C-11,[1] the Supreme Court of Canada handed down five decisions, which are now referred to as the “pentalogy”, to follow the heretofore famous trilogy.[2] The pentalogy, like its three-legged predecessor, marked a significant shift in Canadian copyright policy. The five cases dealt in one form or another with collective […]

XBox One: (Not) Attempting to Modernize Through Monopolization

In late May 2013, Microsoft announced details of its new console, the XBox One, to be launched in November 2013. In addition to new games and technical improvements, consumers were surprised by Microsoft's initial statement that that games on the system would be bound to a user's account. The PR backlash caused Microsoft to change […]

Technological Neutrality: (Pre)Serving the Purposes of Copyright Law

In the realm of law, neutrality is widely hailed as a fundamental principle of fairness, justice and equity; it is also, however, widely criticized as a myth that too often obscures the inevitable reality of perspective, interest or agenda. It should come as little surprise, then, that the principle of technological neutrality, recently employed by […]

Winners of the Gowlings Best Blog in IP and Technology Law Prize!

IP Osgoode would like to congratulate the winners of the Gowlings Best Blog in IP Law and Technology Prize for 2012-2013.  Four prizes in total are awarded each year to Osgoode students and the winning blog posts are featured in the IPilogue. Recipients also receive a $500 award, are announced at Convocation and receive a […]

(Gift) Carded in the US Court of Appeals

Gift cards are everywhere. They are in envelopes as gifts for your friends on their birthdays. They are in your own wallet for your favourite stores. Gift cards are also in the United States Court of Appeals.

New Book - The Copyright Pentalogy: How the Supreme Court of Canada Shook the Foundations of Canadian Copyright Law

In the summer of 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a series of rulings in five major copyright cases (referred to as the “copyright pentalogy”). A new book has just been released that examines the possible long-term impact of these decisions.