In the News

["Jack Boeve" <JBoeve@xxxxxxxx>]

-------------------
Puzzle created for grandson shaping up to be rewarding
The Herald-Mail, April 24, 2011.
http://bit.ly/e80Lks

It's been about 40 years since Jean Miller created C Blox, a simple
four-piece wooden puzzle, but the puzzle was recently marketed and has
earned not only a copyright, but pride for its creator. Miller, 93,
designed the puzzle, consisting of C-shaped pieces, in 1972 for her
grandson and his preschool classmates while he and his family were
living in Guatemala. "Usually puzzles are put together in just one way.
The question is, how many different ways can you put C Blox together?"
Miller said.

-------------------
China's anti-piracy measures 'inconsistent', lawyer argues
Elliot Papageorgiou, BBC News, April 26, 2011.
http://bbc.in/e80REz

The last two years have seen the enactment of new provisions in the
patent law and copyright law. A new trademark law is due to be finalised
soon. Along with these new steps, the amount of civil litigation has
steadily increased. According to China's Supreme Court, more than 41,000
copyright infringement cases were filed in 2010, significantly more than
the 30,000 cases filed just a year before. But while the new
developments look persuasive on paper, how effective is China's
intellectual property protection regime?

-------------------
Russia to set up copyright court
Andreeva Svetlana, The Voice of Russia, April 27, 2011.
http://bit.ly/jiFJKV

Russia's champions of intellectual property rights will get an
institution. President Dmitry Medvedev suggested setting up a special
court to handle intellectual property rights as part of Russia's
arbitration courts and establish it at the Skolkovo innovative centre.
He instructed his administration to develop the idea.

-------------------
Judge Trims Virtual Seller's Copyright Claim
Courthouse News Service, April 26, 2011.
http://bit.ly/ghRloB

A company that that runs a virtual horse store on the Second Life online
virtual world can move forward with a pared-down copyright lawsuit
against a virtual bunny broker, a real federal judge ruled. After the
Moreno Valley, Calif.-based Amaretto Ranch Breedables began selling
virtual horses in the Second Life universe, the Alabama-based Ozimals,
which runs a virtual bunny ranch on Second Life, called foul and took to
the real world to air its grievance.

-------------------
'Stormtrooper' Helmet Copyright Case Argued in U.K.
Bloomberg, April 27, 2011.
http://bloom.bg/i4l9Pt

Bloomberg's Louise Beale reports from London on a controversy over the
sale of Star Wars-related memorabilia. Lucasfilm Ltd. is arguing before
the U.K.'s Supreme Court that the "Stormtrooper" helmets featured in the
"Star Wars" films are entitled to copyright protection. Andrew
Ainsworth, who created the original helmets, has claimed he has the
right to make and sell replicas.

-------------------
Not Relying On Copyright Doesn't Mean You Don't Make Money
Mike Masnick, Techdirt, April 26, 2011.
http://bit.ly/gkRhU4

Copycense recently pointed me to a really depressing post by the author
David Glass, discussing his views on copyright. I found it depressing
because it opened with such hope and recognition about how important
remixing and sharing are to culture and creativity, and how little any
of that has to do with copyright

-------------------
Copyright and patent info on offer during WIPD 2011
Tim Hill, Taylor Winters, 27 April , 2011.
http://bit.ly/j6nT7R

A range of information concerning issues such as copyright and patents
has been on offer to firms as part of this year's World Intellectual
Property Day (WIPD) event. Details concerning trademarks have also been
given out during the World Intellectual Property Office event, which
boasts the theme of 'Designing the Future'

-------------------
Threat to bring down Parliament website taken seriously
New Zealand Herald, April 29, 2011.
http://bit.ly/gvN9S2

A threat by internet activist group Anonymous to shut down Parliament's
website today is being taken seriously, says Parliamentary Services. The
"denial of service" threat is part of a protest against a change to
copyright laws aimed at preventing illegal file sharing by internet
users.

-------------------
HC to hear lyricist's copyright plea tomorrow
Swati Deshpande, Times of India, April 27, 2011.
http://bit.ly/mhkifE

The Bombay high court will hear on Thursday a petition filed by an
aspiring lyricist, Faraaz Ahmed, alleging that a song penned by him has
been used without his permission in the film 'Chalo Dilli'. A Lara Dutta
production, the film will hit the screens later this month. Ahmed,
through his lawyer Mujaheed Mulla, filed a petition contending that
lyricist and music director Anand Raj Anand and the film's producers
infringed his copyright on the song "Matargastiyan".

-------------------
Copyright crimefighting spikes in Dubai
Awad Mustafa, The National, April 26, 2011.
http://bit.ly/fCSvhg

Ignoring copyrights, faking trademarks, stealing patents: these are just
a few of the intellectual property rights infringements Dubai Customs
inspectors are on the lookout for. The department seized more than Dh31
million in counterfeit items last year, and in the first quarter of 2011
they have made 148 busts.

-------------------
SoundExchange relies on DMCA to shutter Webcaster
CNET (blog), April 25, 2011.
http://cnet.co/ffuQGO

Illegal file-sharing services aren't the only ones getting kicked off
the Internet for failing to compensate artists. SWCast Network, a
company that hosted a platform for Internet radio stations, was recently
taken offline for violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
The company was accused by SoundExchange, a nonprofit that collects
royalties on behalf of the music industry, of failing to compensate them
since 2005.

-------------------
Circuit of Ireland Rally 2011 photos copyright by Roy Dempster
RallyBuzz, April 24, 2011.
http://bit.ly/mwyFLV

Photographs from the 2011 Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally in
association with UTV Drive, courtesy of Roy Dempster. Circuit of Ireland
Rally winner Derek McGarrity told rallynews.net: "It was a very good
rally. Yesterday was tricky for us learning the car all over again.
Today was brilliant, the Pirelli tyres worked well and the car was good.
My mechanics Paul and Jim did a fantastic job getting the car ready and
fitting Niall Maguire's engine - they wouldn't give up. I am really
grateful to Niall for lending me the engine."

-------------------
Domain Seizures: Taking Prisoners on the IP Battlefield
Margaret A. Esquenet & Justin A. Hendrix, E-Commerce Times, April 27,
2011.
http://bit.ly/jiwDRp

The ICE seizures, particularly the seizures of several music and sports
sites, have garnered substantial public attention. While rights owners
are generally supportive of ICE's actions, the seizures have prompted
questions regarding due process, fair use, and the role of informal
permission to use copyrighted works.

--------------------
----------
Jack Boeve
Project Specialist
Center for Intellectual Property @ UMUC
Largo, Room 2294
3501 University Blvd. East
Adelphi, MD 20783
T: 240-684-2965 / F: 240-684-2961
jboeve@xxxxxxxx
--------------------
Web: http://www.umuc.edu/cip
Online Member Community: http://www.cipcommunity.org
Twitter: www.twitter.com/umuccip
Blog: (C)ollectanea -- http://www-apps.umuc.edu/blog/collectanea/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=21489752512&ref=ts
=====================