Internet governance issues on which IP Justice engages include: Accountability of Internet Governance Institutions, Multi-Stakeholderism, the Role of Governments, Civil Society, Domain Name Policy, International Relations, Democracy, Justice, Transparency, Internet Freedom, Development, Human Rights, Whois Privacy Policy, Cross-Border Jurisdiction and the Limits of National Sovereignty in Cyberspace
Internet governance venues in which IP Justice participates include: The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF), Net Mundial, ITU World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
UN Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Opens in Athens: IP Justice Sponsors 3 Workshops on Internet Policy Issues
The inaugural meeting of the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) takes place in Athens, Greece from 30 October – 2 November 2006. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has convened the forum to build multi-stakeholder dialogue on Internet policy issues. Over 1500 participants from around the world are expected to attend the forum to identify emerging issues and make recommendations intended to foster the sustainability, robustness, security, stability and development of the Internet. In May 2006, Annan appointed IP Justice Executive Director Robin Gross to the IGF Advisory Group to help shape the policy dialogue. “The IGF was created out of recognition that the Internet has connected the world’s people together like never before, and we must work together to build an Internet that fosters a free flow of information, innovation and development for all,†said Robin Gross. Together with a number of other NGOs, industry and governments, IP Justice is co-sponsoring three workshops at IGF on the topics of “An Internet Bill of Rightsâ€, “Access to Knowledge and Freedom of Expression†and “Open Standardsâ€. Details on the 3 workshops are below....
2 Privacy Workshops at IGF to Explore Security, Privacy & Globalization
Take a look at these two privacy workshops to be held at the Internet Governance Forum in Athens on 31 October 2006. i) "Privacy and Identity Matters" Chaired by Gus Hosein of the London School of Economics and Political Science, and, ii) "Privacy, Development, and Globalisation" Chaired by Ralf Bendrath of the University of Bremen and WSIS Privacy & Security Working Group. Read more.
ICANN’s “Data Valdez” – The Future of Whois Privacy Policy – Panel in New York City on 8 November
The controversy over ICANN's "Whois" personal data policy, which conflicts with a number of national and international privacy guarantees, is the topic of an upcoming panel discussion sponsored by the New York Internet Society. ICANN requires Internet domain name registrants to publish their personal information, like their home address and telephone number on the Internet in its "Whois" database. ICANN's policy has caused a lot of problems for people because spammers use the personal information, the data is used to engage in identity theft, to send bogus legal demands, and silence freedom of expression on the Internet.
IP Justice Comments on 2006 London School of Economics Report to Improve the GNSO
"Many of the proposals in the 2006 LSE Report to reform the GNSO are good - for example, standardized term limits for GNSO Council Members, reducing the number of constituencies from 6 to 3 -- and consolidating the business, intellectual property rights lobby, and internet service providers all in a single "commercial" constituency. This would be an improvement because currently many of the same companies dominate more than one constituency, so are given much greater power within ICANN than other constituencies. For example, companies like Disney, News Corp, and the International Chamber of Commerce dominate both the IPR and business constutiences - giving their interests double weight on ICANN's GNSO Policy Council. ..."
NCUC Summary: Comments to ICANN from Commissioners & Organizations on WHOIS & Privacy
BACKGROUNDER BY NONCOMMERCIAL USERS CONSTITUENCY International Data Protection Laws: Comments to ICANN from Commissioners and Organizations Regarding WHOIS and the Protection of Privacy (Original .PDF) The Noncommercial Users Constituency (NCUC) feels that ICANN and the WHOIS TF must pay close attention to the authoritative formal written comments made by Data [...]
NCUC Contribution to IGF on ICANN Whois Privacy Issue
Contribution Memorandum: Privacy Implications of WHOIS Database Policy Submitted to the Secretariat of the Internet Governance Forum by the ICANN Non-Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) For IGF Greece 2006, Athens, 30 October – 2 November, 2006 The Non-Commercial Users Constituency (NCUC) is the part of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names [...]
IP Justice Submission to the IGF: Realizing the Internet’s Promise for Universal Access to Knowledge and Development
- Internet’s open and free nature are key to accessing knowledge and development - Internet Governance Policies and Intellectual Property Rights - IP Justice Recommendations for an Internet Governance Forum Discussion to Promote the Internet as a Tool for Access to Knowledge and Development: 1. Preserve Openness of Internet and Free Flow of Information: - Build Freedom of Expression Values into Laws & Architectures - Critical Online Speech Censored by Copyright and Trademark -“Digital Locks†Control Flow of Information and Threaten Interoperability - Preserve Interoperability with Open and Free Technical Standards - Governments Adopt Open Document Formats - Encourage Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) Development 2. Grow the Online Information Commons: - Recognize Internet as Valuable Tool for Access to Knowledge - Protect and Value Public Domain - Database Rights Restrict Free Flow of Information on Internet - Provide Online Access to Publicly Funded Research - Recognize Social Value of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Software 3. Build Respect for Civil Liberties into IPR Laws and Procedures Addressing Online Behavior - ICANN’s Whois Policy Must Conform with Privacy Laws - US DMCA “Notice and Take-Down†Provisions Should Comply with Due Process Conclusion: IGF Should Address Relationship Between Intellectual Property Rights, Free Expression, and Access to Knowledge
Tragedy of the Commons: IPR in the Info Age
"Tragedy of the Commons": Intellectual Property Rights in the Information Age The Threat to Civil Liberties and Innovation Posed by Expanding Copyrights By Robin D. Gross, Esq. IP Justice Executive Director www.ipjustice.org Published by MIT Press, 2006 0. Introduction As we enter an information age, the rules governing the use [...]
IP Justice Call for Participation at IGF
IP Justice Call for Participation at UN Internet Governance Forum: 2 Aug Deadline for Contribution to IGF "Synthesis Papers" 24 Aug Deadline for Athens Workshop Proposals Deadline extended until 2 August for written contributions The 30 Oct. - 2 Nov. 2006 inaugural meeting of United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) [...]
NCUC’s Table of National Laws and WHOIS Privacy (.xls)
A comparative analysis of national laws and how they relate to privacy and ICANN's WhoIs policy. Nations analyzed include the United States, France, Australia, Japan, China, Spain, Israel, Italy, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Poland, and Barbados. NCUC's Table of National Laws and WHOIS Privacy. (.XLS)
IP Justice statement at the open consultations of the UN Internet Governance Forum
1. Freedom of Expression 2. Privacy Rights 3. Balanced Intellectual Property Rights 4. Development Agenda for Internet Governance 5. Access to Knowledge
IP Justice: “WIPO Debates Fate of Treaty on Broadcasting & Webcasting”
IP Justice Media Release ~ 2 May 2006 Contact: Robin D. Gross, IP Justice Executive Director Telephone: +1.415.553.6261 Email: robin@ipjustice.org WIPO Debates Fate of Treaty on Broadcasting and Webcasting: Controversial Provisions Remain in Treaty Draft Over Majority Objections (Geneva)Â IP Justice is in Geneva to participate at the 14th session [...]
IP Justice Recommendations to IGF
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