Mallesons IP Whiteboard - Copyright

MegaPirates?: MegaUpload hit with copyright infringement charges

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:26:34 +1100

MegaUpload, a popular filesharing "locker" website has been shut down by the US Government, charged with being a worldwide criminal organisation for online piracy. read more »

SOPA and PIPA - what is it and what does it all mean?

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:50:06 +1100

The online world is in a spin over new proposed legislation recently introduced in the US to target online copyright pirates. read more »

Which is the best area of intellectual property law? Google Ngram provides an answer

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:00:00 +1100

This week I asked myself a very serious question: Which type of intellectual property law is the best? read more »

A Mega Song mega saga: a YouTube take-down controversy

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:18:10 +1100

I am sure many blog readers would be familiar with this experience: You are casually browsing videos on YouTube and are confronted with the “black screen of death”. read more »

The price of selling fake G-Star clothes

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:26:45 +1100

You know it’s going to be a good case when the respondent is served by text message. This case was about selling counterfeit G-Star clothing. It’s a useful reminder of how the court is treating small scale infringements of well-known brands. Here the Court found copyright infringement had occurred and ordered the respondent to pay $63,000, most of which was for loss or reputation and exemplary damages due to the flagrancy of the infringement. read more »

RIAA isn’t buying ReDigi’s second hand digital music

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:22:21 +1100

A new website based in the US called ReDigi launched recently, offering consumers a way to sell their ‘used’ digital music files. Second hand digital music markets raise some interesting copyright issues, with different implications for jurisdictions across the world. read more »

UK proposed parody exception: allowing amateur parodies to proliferate on social media

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:50:03 +1100

On 14 December, the UK Intellectual Property Office launched a copyright consultation, containing further details of a proposal to introduce a fair dealing exception for parodies, caricature and pastiche. read more »

Fair dealing or freeloading? iTunes previews to face the music…

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:46:24 +1100

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court of Canada heard five copyright cases on appeal from Canada’s Copyright Board (the “Board”). The cases have far reaching implications for copyright owners and users alike. The legality of photocopying textbooks for school children and previewing songs on iTunes is at stake, as is the right of copyright owners to receive royalties for music downloaded by consumers as part of video games. read more »

iiNet Update: High Court hears the iiNet copyright “conundrum”

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:05:50 +1100

Last week, the High Court heard the iiNet v Roadshow Films appeal. The case concerns whether iiNet can be held liable for authorising its customers’ copyright infringements. The question of how copyright can be protected in an internet age is a difficult one and the Justice Hayne identified a basic conundrum in this area of copyright law. read more »

UK phone hacking scandal - the copyright edition

Mallesons IP Whiteboard — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:17:48 +1100

As many of us know, deleting something from a phone, laptop or computer doesn’t mean it is actually “deleted.” This is because deleting a file (including a text message) is but the first step in permanently removing that file from any electronic device. It’s why you are readily able to restore your uni paper, Christmas card list, or uber-important work document (phew!) from the Recycle Bin on your desktop. read more »