Programme
Access to Knowledge
Copyright, patents and Indian-language Wikimedia projects. 1,320 items.
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.
16 Dec 2010
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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
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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 …
23 Nov 2010
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Statement of CIS on the Work of the Committee in the 21st SCCRThe twenty-first session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights was held in Geneva from 8 to 12 November 2010. Nirmita Narasimhan attended the conference and represented the Centre for Internet and Society.
13 Nov 2010
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We’ve All Got Some BaggageAmerica’s newest trade agreement is not going to kill only iPods. The article appeared in the Tehelka Magazine Vol 7, Issue 45, Dated November 13, 2010
23 Oct 2010
2 Sep 2010
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Seminar on Software Patent and the CommonsA pre-grant opposition has been filed against a software patent application filed in the patent office by Certicom, a wholly owned subsidiary of Research in Motion (RIM), manufacturers of Blackberry. The opposition was filed on August 31, …
24 Aug 2010
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The Bilski Case - Impact on Software PatentsThe Supreme Court of the United States gave its decision in Bilski v Kappos on 28 June, 2010. In this case the petitioners’ patent application sought protection for a claimed invention that explains how commodities buyers and sellers in the …
24 Aug 2010
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First Post-Bilski Decision - Software Patent RejectedIn the first decision post-Bilski, the Board of Patents Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) rejected a software patent claimed by Hewlett-Packard. The ruling in this case has buttressed the fact that the Bilski decision furthered the cause of …
20 Aug 2010
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Privacy and the Indian Copyright Act, 1857 as Amended in 2010In this post the author examines the issue of privacy in light of the Indian Copyright Act, 1857 as amended by the Copyright Amendment Bill in 2010. Four key questions are examined in detail and the author gives suitable recommendations for …
18 Jul 2010
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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.
13 Jul 2010
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A Guide to Key IPR Provisions of the Proposed India-European Union Free Trade AgreementThe Centre for Internet and Society presents a guide for policymakers and other stakeholders to the latest draft of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, which likely will be concluded by the end of the year and may hold serious …
14 May 2010
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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 …
13 May 2010
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Exceptions and Limitations in Indian Copyright Law for Education: An AssessmentThis paper examines the nature of exceptions and limitations in copyright law for the purposes of the use of copyrighted materials for education. It looks at the existing national and international regime, and argues for why there is a need …
29 Apr 2010
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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 …
23 Apr 2010
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When Copyright Goes BadA part of the Access to Knowledge Project, this short film by Consumers International is available on DVD and online at A2Knetwork.org/film.
22 Feb 2010
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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 …
1 Feb 2010
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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.
22 Jan 2010
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Piracy Studies in IndiaThe word ‘piracy’ assumes negative connotations. In the imagination of an ordinary middle class urban Indian it is linked directly to the informal economy, crime and even terrorism. But the ‘pirated good’, that is, the ‘optical disc’ is not …
22 Jan 2010
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Enforcement of Anti-piracy Laws by the Indian Entertainment IndustryThis brief note by Siddharth Chadha seeks to map out the key actors in enforcement of copyright laws. These bodies not only investigate cases of infringement and piracy relating to the entertainment industry, but tie up with the police and …
2 Dec 2009
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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 …
18 Nov 2009
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Access to online information and knowledge – advancing human rights and democracyAn article by Achal Prabhala in GISW 2009 (Global Information Society Watch, 2009)
29 Oct 2009
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At the end of the niche optical pirateIn this blog post, Siddharth Chaddha goes enquiring into the modus operandi of a video pirate / film lover / businessman in Bangalore's famed National Market.
8 Sep 2009
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World IT Forum 2009At the World IT Forum, Pranesh Prakash made a brief presentation on intellectual property rights, how ill-suited they are to be considered "property" rights, and how they have been foisted upon the developing world.
24 Aug 2009
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Fallacies, Lies, and Video PiratesAt a recent conference on counterfeiting and piracy, industry representatives variously pushed for stiffer laws for IP violation, more stringent enforcement of existing IP laws, and championed IP as the most important thing for businesses …
18 Aug 2009
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Civil Society Letter Against TRIPS-Plus IP EnforcementThis open letter was sent to the president of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and high-level government officials on the eve of the Third International Conference on Counterfeiting & Piracy organized by CII. This conference aims to …
15 Jun 2009
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Emerging Bit Torrent Trends in IndiaInternet has been a revelation ever since its introduction. The writer in this blog examines how the progress made by Internet based technologies could never be reversed.
6 Jun 2009
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Are you Game?In a preview on the rise and expectations in the Gaming industry, this post looks at emerging trends in India.
5 Jun 2009
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Consumers International IP Watch List 2009In response to the US Special 301 report, Consumers International brought out an IP Watch List. CIS contributed the India Country Report for the Watch List.
4 Jun 2009
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'Internet and Deliberative Democracy': Panel Discussion Featuring Sunil Abraham, Philippe Aigrain and Mario LosanoSunil Abraham, Director (Policy), Centre for Internet and Society, attended the first edition of the Biennale Democrazia in Turin, 22-26 April 2009. He participated in a panel discussion on the topic 'Internet and Deliberative Democracy'. …