US Government Scuttles Plan To Share Control Of The Internet 11/03/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The US Commerce Department National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has cancelled its request for proposal for the management of the internet root zone file, a core piece of infrastructure for the global domain name system (DNS) that helps users to navigate the net.
Internet Governance In 2012: Reaching New Heights Or Hitting A Wall 05/03/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment There will be more than 50 important meetings talking internet in 2012, and activists and government alike have started calling for streamlining or better cooperation and focus. Yet what might make 2012 a very notable year with regard to the politics of the net is not these meetings, but the rising storms blowing over the net regarding day to day internet politics. The preliminary stop of the un-beloved SOPA/PIPA legislation in the United States and the unexpected hesitation of Europe to sign the controversial ACTA agreement gave a first taste of a hot year in internet governance.
Will The Old Music Industry Giants Be Exchanged For New Ones? 02/02/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CANNES, FRANCE–The red carpets were still there at the Midem, the world’s largest music fair, but they have become shorter. The industry shattered over the years by the decline in physical sales and fighting fiercely against digital piracy this year praised the revenue from digital sources which have overtaken physical sales in some countries. But it remains to be seen – can the old giants partner with the new, digital platform giants, and survive?
Most EU Members Sign ACTA; SOPA-Style Protests Building 27/01/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment While most of the 27 member states of the European Union signed the much-debated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) yesterday in Tokyo, joining the United States, Japan and other ACTA partners, hackers brought down the website of the European Parliament, and a key official stepped down. This may be only the beginning of the protests and petitioning.
ICANN Announces New TLD Program Start 11/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On the eve of the start of the application period for new generic top level domains (gTLDs) on the internet, the chair of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Steve Crocker, described the program as a “major step in the globalisation of the internet.” For the first time there will be equal access and an equal invitation to users from all over the world to have generic domain names, Crocker said at the National Press Club in Washington, DC today.
NTIA Supports New Domains – Phased In, With Protection 05/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has announced its support for additional policies for new generic top-level domains on the internet, with conditions. The Commerce Department agency will stick to the 12 January start of the application period for new domains, but it has requested that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) take additional precautions when opening up the process.
Last Parliament Standing: Europe Final Stronghold Of ACTA Critics 21/12/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments With a recent decision by the Agriculture and Fishery Council of the European Union, the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) seems to have made a big leap forward. And with recent breakthroughs in other countries, ACTA’s final hurdle may be in the European parliaments.
UN, IMF, WTO, Other Organizations Raise Concern About New Domains 14/12/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United Nations, International Monetary Fund and over 20 other international organisations have expressed concerns over the opening up of the internet domain name system for new generic top level domains (gTLDs) like .nyc or .news.
Taiwan Looks To Join ACTA 13/12/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Taiwan may become the first new country to join the ranks of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
Kroes Details EU No-Disconnect, Open Data Strategies 12/12/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment European Commissioner for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes today presented details on the No-Disconnect strategy of the EU which aims to support human rights activists and freedom fighters in authoritarian regimes.