In The News

["Olga Francois" <OFrancois@xxxxxxxx>]

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Press Release: December 6, 2006

ALA Editions announces partnership with Google Book Search: Google Book
Search will help ALA Editions reach users around the world
http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2006/debember2006/ALAEditionsGooglep
artner.htm

"CHICAGO - ALA Editions of the American Library Association (ALA) is
pleased to announce their recent partnership with Google to offer ALA
Editions content through Google Book Search.  Users now will be able to
preview ALA Editions titles, conduct multiple searches within the books,
and browse through the available pages.
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Philips rolls anti-piracy tech for video
By ALEX VEIGA, Associated Press, Dec. 13, 2006
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/news/editorial/16232331.h
tm

"LOS ANGELES - Philips Electronics is launching a service Thursday to
help Web sites and online file-sharing networks filter out unauthorized
copyright video files."
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EU dismisses industry "noise" over copyright tax
By Reuters, Dec 14, 2006
http://tinyurl.com/uuqmo

"BRUSSELS- The European Commission on Thursday dismissed accusations
from the electronics industry of a cave-in over copyright tax, but said
it would treat any complaints impartially."
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Copyright pirates sentenced in Hong Kong, Japan: Fines and jail time for
offenders
By Steven Schwankert , December 13, 2006 (IDG News Service) -
http://tinyurl.com/vd2mw

"Defendants convicted in copyright infringement cases in Hong Kong and
Japan were sentenced this week, resulting in jail time and a fine,
respectively."
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Alliance to boost copyright protection
By Xie Chuanjiao, China Daily, 2006-12-12
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-12/12/content_756284.htm

"The China Enterprise Copyright Alliance was set up in Beijing yesterday
to accelerate and enhance the country's copyright-related industries."
----

RIAA Petitions Judges to Lower Artist Royalties
Aggressively litigious group has claimed to protect musicians in the
past. Now believes musicians deserve less for "innovative" music
distribution.
By Gerry Block, ING.com, December 7, 2006
http://gear.ign.com/articles/749/749883p1.html

"The RIAA rose to public prominence around the year 2000 when the growth
of internet file sharing and music piracy was blamed for rapidly
declining album sales at the time. The RIAA's subsequent highly
publicized and aggressive litigious action against those the group
identified as distributors of copyrighted music, which has famously
included grandmothers, single mothers in economic hardship, and
children, won the organization little sympathy from the general public."
-----

Why the copyright law is wrong
By SEAN HAMILTON, Sun Online, December 08, 2006
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006560780,00.html

"TOP musicians this week joined forces in a bid to tighten copyright
law."
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Google's copyright fix
By Chris Taylor, CNN Business, December 11 2006
http://money.cnn.com/2006/12/08/magazines/business2/youtube_piracy.biz2/
?postversion=2006120818

"Barely two months ago pundits were predicting a litigation explosion
for Google and its new YouTube video-sharing unit. But look what's
happening instead
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HONG KONG: Copyright protection requires more than legislation - HK
minister
By Forbes.com, 12.08.06
http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/12/08/afx3238709.html

"(XFN-ASIA) - Problems relating to copyright protection have become
tougher to resolve because of the widespread use of the internet, and
will require more action than mere legislation, Hong Kong's commerce and
industry minister Joseph Wong said at the ITU Telecom World 2006 trade
conference here."
------

Major labels to offer unrestricted MP3s
By Alex Veiga, The Associated Press,12/7/2006
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2006-12-07-mp3-sales_x.htm

"LOS ANGELES - After years of selling online music digitally wrapped
with copy and playback restrictions designed to hinder piracy, major
music labels are beginning to make some songs available in the
unrestricted MP3 file format."