The hyping of the Trans-Pacific Partnership has begun. But on some issues it’s cover for a predatorial United States.
Intellectual property
Apple v Samsung: patents battle in high-stakes catch-up game
The bitter patent dispute between Apple and Samsung has intensified, after Samsung moved to counter-sue Apple for patent infringement. It’s the latest salvo not only in the technology wars but in an increasing battle over intellectual patents.
The copyright industry’s war on filesharing: outsourced and ineffectual
The copyright industry has changed tactics in its war on filesharing but it’s still not working, even as it hits legitimate internet users.
Nielsen copyright scrap over banking customer survey
Multi-national research conglomerate Nielsen has been accused of breaching intellectual property over a major banking customer satisfaction survey, with the man behind the claim telling Crikey that Nielsen’s conduct has caused him financial and emotional pain.
Does Sky own the ‘News 24′ brand?
The battle between Sky News and the ABC’s fledgling around-the-clock news network was always going to get a little nasty. And now word has filtered out about just how precious Sky will be in protecting its turf.
IP industry’s border control measures makes for scary stuff
An innovative society cannot be nurtured if the IP corporations holding monopoly rights are allowed to determine the economic and trade rules, circumvent courts and define constraints on civil liberties, says Anna George.
Facebook’s ‘news feed’ patent — just a legal novelty?
Facebook’s “news feed” patent is a classic example of why the very idea of software patents is controversial. But is patent law’s “novelty” requirement really anything new?
Riffing on the Down Under decision
Colin Hay may be a great musician, but his claim that it took almost two decades for anyone to notice that Land Down Under sounds a little bit like Kookaburra is absurd, says Tim Dunlop.
Pecking holes in the Men At Work vs. Kookaburra case
Have you ever actually listened to Land Down Under and thought: “Ah yes, the flute part is the kookaburra song”? asks Leaping Larry L. In fact, have you ever even noticed there was a flute before?
Crikey Says: SBS v Crikey: game on
SBS claims that Crikey is profiting from the term “the world game” by selling our tea towels, socks and other paraphernalia off the back of their brand. To which we say, get your hand off it SBS, we’ve got Kevin Rudd’s pets.
Meet the man who beat Glenn Beck
Fox News commentator Glenn Beck recently tried to sue Isaac Eiland-Hall, a 34-year-old IT student and the owner of a website called GlennBeckRapedAndMurdered AYoungGirlIn1990.com. He lost.
Internet: 1, Glenn Beck: 0
Controversial Fox News anchor Glenn Beck has lost his battle to rid the internet of the site glennbeckrapedandmurdered ayounggirlin1990.com. Following his victory, the owner of the domain has penned an open letter [pdf] to Beck slamming him, but volunteering to relinquish the site.
Guy Rundle: IP, a whiter shade of property
Intellectual property is a fiction, and the way in which it is conceived changes over time, writes Guy Rundle. Just ask Men at Work.
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.
Harry Potter and the battle for free speech
Gripping scenes in a New York court this week, as famed Harry Potter author JK Rowling and her publisher are suing another publisher, RDR Books, writes Charles Richardson.
