Is colour a limited resource?The colour palette is shrinking as brands stake their claim, bit-by-bit, on the exclusive rights to individual tones. You already can’t use Jay-Z blue, or T-Mobile’s magenta. Are we literally selling off the rainbow?
Copyright
“Monopoly ruined my life!”
83-year-old economics professor Ralph Anspac has spent the better part of his life locked in battle with Monopoly-maker Hasbro over the rights to sell his own game called Anti-Monopoly, and to expose what he says is the “true” history of the boardgame.
Why AFACT v iiNet is important
iiNet is battling AFACT over illegal sharing of copyright films, tv and music via peer-to-peer networks, and the implications will be wide reaching. Who is responsible for the content of internet traffic?
Oh Pooh! Disney wins Winnie case
Walt Disney Co. has confirmed its right to exploit the Winnie the Pooh characters, after winning an 18-year battle with The Slesinger family. Sorry purists, the newer plastic fantastic version of Winnie is here to stay.
How Google bought our literary heritage for a bargain
Last year’s controversial court settlement that allows Google Books to scan and publish millions of books for only $125m gives the company a “stranglehold on mankind’s literary heritage”, says John Naughton. Have we sold-off our culture?
Proposed intercept laws could create thousands of “Little Brothers”
Proposed amendments to the Telecommunications Act could dramatically increase the monitoring of your electronic communications. What will the loss of privacy mean?
Why Twitter can’t trademark the tweet
Last month, Twitter founder Biz Stone announced that the company had applied to trademark the word “tweet”, causing much consternation in the blogosphere. But what he didn’t mention, explains Sam Johnston is that they’ve already tried — and failed.
Tell ‘im he’s dreamin’: AP quote $2.50 per word
Wire Service The Associated Press don’t like people getting something for nothing, and are now charging websites and news outlets to quote from its articles, with prices ranging from $12.50 for five words to $100 for 251 words or more.
Who owns green technology?
How do we keep emerging green technologies affordable and accessible to the developing world when they’re being developed by companies so consumed in the culture of the almighty copyright? Five experts share their ideas.
AP: enemy of freedom or just misunderstood?
The internet exploded in a storm of indignation with news that the Associated Press plans to digitally track and protect all its online content. But is the AP really the greedy News Nazi it’s being made out to be?
Anti-censorship ad hits turbulence
Qantas refuses to run GetUp’s new anti-censorship ad that lampoons the government’s net filters while GlaxoSmithKline says they may sue over its infringement on the ‘Sensodyne’ trademark, reports Asher Moses.
Three strikes and you’re offline
New Zealand is to implement a ‘three strikes and you’re offline’ rule in an attempt to fight copyright issues on the internet.
Could tighter copyright laws save journalism?
How can quality journalism be preserved in the era of online rehashed churnalism? Connie Schultz thinks American copyright laws need reforming.
Artists nix Google’s offer of showcasing their work
When Google recently invited dozens of prominent artists to contribute work to be featured on its new Web browser, the company sold the idea as an opportunity to have artwork shown to millions. But not everyone bought it.
When copyright is specious: Salinger and The Catcher
The dogmatic insistence that The Catcher in the Rye is a masterpiece beyond change, adulteration or imitation is naïve at best, disingenuous at worst, writes Binoy Kampmark.
Is there copyright in space?
Apparently all you have to do to legally download new movies — with the government’s assistance in copying, reformatting and uploading requested titles — is leave the planet, says Cinetology.
The legal wrangle over paper towel patterns
Procter & Gamble has filed suit against Georgia-Pacific alleging bow-tie patterns in new-and-improved Brawny paper towels infringe their trademark bow-tie shapes.
AFL takes on geeks
The AFL has told footy fan blog contestedfooty.com to remove any references to the league or its clubs from their site.
