Author
Pranesh Prakash
171 items.
7 Apr 2011
Blog post
DIT's Response to RTI on Website BlockingFor the first time in India, we have a list of websites that are blocked by order of the Indian government. This data was received from the Department of Information Technology in response to an RTI that CIS filed. Pranesh Prakash of CIS …
21 Mar 2011
Blog post
Comments to the Ministry on WIPO Broadcast Treaty (March 2011)As a follow up to a stakeholder meeting called by the MHRD on the WIPO Broadcast Treaty, CIS provided written comments on the April 2007 Non-Paper of the WIPO Broadcast Treaty, emphasising the need for a signal-based approach to be taken on …
9 Mar 2011
Blog post
RTI Applications on Blocking of WebsitesIn recent weeks, an increasing number of incidents have come to light on government-ordered blocking of websites. In one case involving Zone-H.org, it is clear who has ordered the block (a Delhi district court judge, as an interim order), …
25 Feb 2011
Blog post
Exhaustion: Imports, Exports and the Doctrine of First Sale in Indian Copyright LawThis article by Pranesh Prakash was published in the Manupatra Intellectual Property Reports, February 2011, Volume 1, Part 2, pp. 149-160. In this short note, the author argues that Indian courts have fundamentally misunderstood the …
25 Feb 2011
Blog post
Engaging on the Digital CommonsWe at the Centre for Internet and Society are very glad to be able to participate in the 13th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC). Our interest in the conference arises mainly from our …
25 Feb 2011
Blog post
CIS Para-wise Comments on Intermediary Due Diligence Rules, 2011On February 7th 2011, the Department of Information Technology, MCIT published draft rules on its website (The Information Technology (Due diligence observed by intermediaries guidelines) Rules, 2011) in exercise of the powers conferred by …
23 Feb 2011
Blog post
CIS Comments on the Interoperability Framework for e-Governance (Phase I)In November 2010, the Central Government released the Draft 0.6 of the Technical Standards for the Interoperability Framework for e-Governance (Phase I), requesting comments by January 27, 2011. Here are the comments that CIS submitted.
11 Feb 2011
Blog post
Thomas Abraham's Rebuttal on Parallel ImportationWe engaged in an e-mail conversation with Thomas Abraham, the managing director of Hachette India, on the issue of parallel importation of books into India. We thought it would be in the public interest to publish a substantive part of that …
1 Feb 2011
Blog post
Indian Law and "Parallel Exports"Recently, a lawyer for the publishing industry made the claim that allowing for parallel importation would legally allow for the exports of low-priced edition. Here we present a legal rebuttal of that claim.
25 Jan 2011
Blog post
Why Parallel Importation of Books Should Be AllowedThere has been much controversy lately with some publishers trying to stop the government from amending s.2(m) of the Indian Copyright Act, clarifying that a parallel import will not be seen as an "infringing copy". This blog post argues …
25 Jan 2011
Blog post
The Online Video Environment in India - A Survey ReportiCOMMONS, the OPEN VIDEO ALLIANCE, and the CENTRE FOR INTERNET AND SOCIETY have initiated a research project which seeks to survey the online video environment in India and the opportunities this new medium presents for creative expression …
12 Jan 2011
Blog post
New Release of IPR Chapter of India-EU Free Trade AgreementA draft of the IPR chapter of the EU-India FTA, made publicly available now for the first time, provides insight into India's response in July 2010 to several EU proposals on intellectual property protection and enforcement.
21 Dec 2010
Blog post
Call for Comments for Report on the Online Video Environment in IndiaThe Open Video Alliance, the Centre for Internet and Society and iCommons are pleased to announce a public call for comments on version 1 of "Online Video Environment in India: A Survey Report".
16 Dec 2010
Blog post
Problems Remain with Standing Committee's Report on Copyright AmendmentsThe Rajya Sabha Standing Committee on Human Resource Development (under which ministry copyright falls) recently tabled their report on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010 before Parliament. There is much to be applauded in the report, …
5 Dec 2010
Blog post
CIS Submission on Draft Patent Manual 2010The patent office has released a revised version of the Draft Manual of Patent Practice and Procedure. Section 8.03.06.10 of the Manual deals with patenting of computer programmes. CIS is happy to note the many improvements in this draft of …
28 Jul 2010
Blog post
Civic Hacking WorkshopCIS, with the UK Government's Foreign Office and the Cabinet Office Team for Digital Engagement, and Google India, is organizing a workshop on open data (or the lack thereof) and 'civic hacking'.
18 Jul 2010
Blog post
Analysis of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010CIS analyses the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010, from a public interest perspective to sift the good from the bad, and importantly to point out what crucial amendments should be considered but have not been so far.
14 May 2010
Blog post
The 2010 Special 301 Report Is More of the Same, Slightly Less ShrillPranesh Prakash examines the numerous flaws in the Special 301 from the Indian perspective, to come to the conclusion that the Indian government should openly refuse to acknowledge such a flawed report. He notes that the Consumers …
29 Apr 2010
Blog post
Technological Protection Measures in the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010In this post Pranesh Prakash conducts a legal exegesis of section 65A of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill, 2010, which deals with the stuff that enables 'Digital Rights/Restrictions Management', i.e., Technological Protection Measures. He …
5 Apr 2010
Blog post
Research Project on Open Video in IndiaOpen Video Alliance and the Centre for Internet and Society are calling for researchers for a project on open video in India, its potentials, limitations, and recommendations on policy interventions.
22 Feb 2010
Blog post
Arguments Against Software Patents in IndiaCIS believes that software patents are harmful for the software industry and for consumers. In this post, Pranesh Prakash looks at the philosophical, legal and practical reasons for holding such a position in India. This is a slightly …
5 Feb 2010
Blog post
Report on the Fourth Internet Governance Forum for Commonwealth IGFThis report by Pranesh Prakash reflects on the question of how useful the IGF is in the light of meetings on the themes of intellectual property, freedom of speech and privacy.
1 Feb 2010
Blog post
CIS Statement on the WIPO Broadcast Treaty at SCCR 19This statement on the WIPO Broadcast Treaty was delivered on December 17, 2010 at the 19th session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights by Nirmita Narasimhan on behalf of CIS.
11 Jan 2010
News
World Day Against Software PatentsA global coalition of more than 80 software companies, associations and developers has declared the 24th of September to be the "World Day Against Software Patents". The Hindu, a national daily dedicated one page of its Bangalore edition to …
11 Jan 2010
News
Time Out Bengaluru - Software PatentingAn article by Akhila Seetharaman published as a precursor to the national public meeting on software patents held on 4th in Bangalore.
2 Dec 2009
Blog post
IJLT-CIS Law Essay CompetitionThe Indian Journal of Law and Technology and CIS are conducting a legal essay competition to encourage law students across India to think critically about the techno-legal issues facing us today. Students can write on any of the four …
30 Nov 2009
Blog post
Open Standards Workshop at IGF '09The Centre for Internet and Society co-organized a workshop on 'Open Standards: A Rights-Based Framework' at the fourth Internet Governance Forum, at Sharm el-Sheikh. The panel was chaired by Aslam Raffee of Sun Microsystems and the …
4 Nov 2009
News
Open DebateDeepa Kurup's article in Frontline on the battle over open standards in e-governance.
4 Nov 2009
Blog post
IPv6 in India: The promises and challengesNewspapers have been reporting that IPv4 addresses will get over soon, and that we will have to shift to IPv6. In this short piece, Pranesh Prakash gives a layperson's introduction to the IPv6 Internet we will be entering into soon, and …
8 Oct 2009
Blog post
Control Shift?The USA has ceded control of the Internet over to Icann, but only partially. (This post appeared as an article in Down to Earth, in the issue dated November 15, 2009.)