In The News

["Olga Francois" <ofrancois@xxxxxxxx>]

-------------------------------------------------------------------

FBI crackdown over Net copyright By Curt Anderson in Washington
By Herald Sun, 26aug04
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,10574581%255E1702,00.html

"THE FBI seized computers, software and equipment as part of an
investigation into illegal sharing of copyrighted movies, music and
games over an Internet "peer-to-peer" (P2P) network, US Attorney General
John Ashcroft said. Search warrants were executed at residences and an
internet service provider in Texas, New York and Wisconsin as part of
the first federal criminal copyright action taken against a P2P network,
in which users can access files directly from computers of others in the
network."
---------------

Music publisher settles copyright dispute
By Outlaw.com,  26/08/2004

"Music publisher Ludlow Music has settled a growing dispute with web
animators JibJab Media over its allegedly unauthorised use of the song
"This Land Is Your Land," made famous by folk singer Woody Guthrie."
*
JibJab beats copyright rap
By Evan Hansen, CNET News.com, August 25, 2004
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104-5322970.html
-------------

Tech Firms Seek to Soften Anti-Piracy Bill
By Alex Veiga, WashingtonPost.com, August 26, 2004
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34288-2004Aug26.html

"LOS ANGELES -- Internet service providers and other technology firms
are proposing to soften a bill in Congress that they  claim will make
them targets of frivolous entertainment industry copyright lawsuits."
*
Copyright Bill Needs Big Changes
By Katie Dean, Wired.com, Aug. 25, 2004
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,64697,00.html/wn_ascii

"In response to a request from a Senate committee, consumer electronics
companies and public-interest groups on Tuesday submitted changes to a
controversial copyright bill that would hold technology companies liable
for encouraging people to infringe copyright."
-------------

Copyright Law gets major makeover: RULES AND REGULATIONS: New amendments
passed by the legislature this week provide more protection to
digital-content publications and includes more penalties
By Jessie Ho, taipeitimes.com, Aug 26, 2004,Page 10
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2004/08/26/2003200286

"Representatives from copyright holders and trade groups yesterday
welcomed new amendments to the Copyright Law (????), which were passed
by the Legislative Yuan on Tuesday."
*
NZers 'will be consulted' on copyright, free trade laws Government wants
market integration with US but not at any cost, minister says
By Stephen Bell, Computer World Australia, 27 August, 2004
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/0/C9D099B977363DF6CC256EFC0029C894?OpenDocument&pub=Computerworld

"The Government is making optimistic noises about a potential conflict
between New Zealand's emerging copyright law and any negotiation of a
free trade agreement with the US."
*
United Kingdom: Format Fortunes - Is There Now a Copyright for the
Television Format ?
By Ben Challis, Mondaq.com,  26 August 2004
http://www.mondaq.com/i_article.asp_Q_articleid_E_28023
(Registration Required)

"Most people who are involved in exploitation, global licensing and
merchandising of television programmes know the value of a television
format - whether it is Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?, Big Brother,
Wheel of Fortune, Pop Idol or Family Fortunes. licensing formats - where
the creator of a format licenses a broadcaster or production company in
another territory with the right to produce a version of that format"