- nexa - server-nexa.polito.it

[Fwd: Digital rights: call to all citizens to fight back]

by J.C. DE MARTIN

Ricevo e volentieri condivido con voi. juan carlos -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Digital rights: call to all citizens to fight back Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 07:31:48 -0500 From: contacto(a)exgae.net To: director(a)nexa.polito.it "The battle for access to information and the Internet is the mother of all battles, the one that will allow us to keep going autonomously and creatively in crisis times, regardless of what the powers that be "organise" for their own interest..." /Zaphod Beeblebrox, Digital Thoughts/ *Because in times of crisis, the European Parliament is discussing how to take away one of the few remaining ways that allow citizens to get ahead -- open access to the Internet -- and to hand it over to the multinationals (this is not science fiction; it is happening now - follow the links below [1]); Because we must be able to benefit from spreading our works without middlemen; Because we are fed up with plundering by royalties management organisations; Because artists are being used as an excuse to restrict legal rights to expression and development; Because copying and sharing information is our right to culture, to knowledge and to communication, and they want to give it away to the entertainment industry (this isn't science fiction either -- the American Chamber of Commerce is pressuring worldwide for changes to the Intellectual Property Laws to prevent the right to copy and share information [2]); Because their business is not our culture; Because it is important for artists to be able to make a living from their work if they wish to; Because "greed breaks the sack" as we saw in this crisis that has shown us that we live in a system that expects us to protect the interests of banks and multinationals, in the hope that they might one day give us a job in exchange for the crumbs of their profits. The philosophy of free culture, inherited from the free software movement, is the best empirical proof that a new kind of ethics and a new kind of business are possible. It has already created an alternative production space that works, based on an artisan or trade model in which the author-producer doesn't lose control of his or her output and doesn't need the mediation of big monopolies. A kind of production that is committed to autonomous initiatives in solidarity with others, to sharing based on each person's abilities and opportunities, to the democratisation of knowledge, education and the means of production and to fair distribution of earnings based on work carried out. * And because actions speak louder than words, thousands of individuals and organisations, hundreds of artists, have joined forces... we welcome back in Barcelona, Spain... * * * The oXcars *29th of octobre 2009* *the biggest free culture event of all time http://oxcars09.exgae.net And, for the first time, we introduce *The International Free Culture Forum: ** Organisation and Action* 30th of octobre to 1st of novembre 2009* * which will put down in black and white the politics of the digital age as conceived by citizens, by you and by me (this is not science fiction!). http://fcforum.net/ This is an invitation extended to everybody, and an invitation extended to over 1000 institutions that legislate on our rights worldwide, an invitation to listen and to understand, because the way of life and development of citizens is at stake. On October 25 we will reveal how each and every one of them has responded. The oXcars and The Free Culture Forum are open to everybody. Come along, find out about absolutely everything and participate. This is unstoppable, we can only win. The civil society have its word to say on access to knowledge and culture in the digital age. Please, spread the info. *http://oxcars09.exgae.net/ http://fcforum.net/* "It was the same with the inquisition: digital progress is also unstoppable, the only issue is how many years of suffering, stagnation and obscurantism we will have to but up with before they admit that their interests are not the centre of the universe". /Cayce Pollard, Vogons Proverbs/ [By the way, this message is illegal en Europe. It is illegal to use quotations except for research and educational purposes. Quotes for information purposes are not permitted... And this is not science fiction]. *____________ Related material of interest:* *[1] *-- During the Free Culture Forum you will be able to collaborate, in the flesh, with the organisations that are lobbying the European Parliament exactly during these days in which the fearsome Telecoms Package is being debated. You can see what it's all about here: http://www.laquadrature.net/en/we-must-protect-net-neutrality-in-europe-ope… http://www.euopeninternet.eu Here is information about who is on the committee, how they have voted (from red to green, from more favourable to citizens to more favourable to multinationals), and who we have to lobby in each country (if you know some of them, talk to them; if you don't know them, ring them up. These links show you how): http://werebuild.eu/wiki/index.php/Operation_revelation http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package-Conciliation_Committe-Par… What do we tell them?: to defend the original article 138, not the "soft" version. That is: no private entity can monitor your digital communication"prior ruling by the judicial authorities". Send to the Europarlementiers the following sentence (this action is carried out all over Europe): ""*Prior ruling by the judicial authorities*" is a condition of democracy. Don't restrict basic freedoms. Using internet access is now instrumental to basic freedoms. Defend the real Amendment 138". (Don't insult them if not they will spam you. Here their telephone and emails: http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Telecoms_Package-Conciliation_Committe-Par…) *[2]* - EEUU Industry "anti-piracy" plans (Spain and Canadá are in the 3rd and 2nd position): http://www.ustr.gov/about-us/press-office/reports-and-publications/archives… _______________________ If you don't want to receive anymore information, please send us back this email with the word "delete" in the Content and apologise. -- If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, este enlace <http://conservas.tk/phplist/?p=unsubscribe&uid=223e077e752db9b6eb3f159e0a15…> To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visit este enlace <http://conservas.tk/phplist/?p=preferences&uid=223e077e752db9b6eb3f159e0a15…> Forward a Message to Someone este enlace <http://conservas.tk/phplist/?p=forward&uid=223e077e752db9b6eb3f159e0a156e42…> Powered by PHPlist2.10.9, © tincan ltd <http://www.phplist.com>

Oct. 5, 2009

Re: [nexa] [Fwd: [Oa-italia] 5 università firmano uno statement per sostenere il modello author-pays]

by J.C. DE MARTIN

Ciao David, tra un viaggio di lavoro e il successivo, provo a darti una risposta, anche se in poche righe, invece delle paginate che sarebbero necessarie per dare un quadro anche solo minimo della situazione. Lasciamo da parte, per semplicita', il discorso dei corsi online, che non sono, a mio modo di vedere, il cuore del discorso OCW, che riguarda invece principalmente i corsi normali. Perche' l'Italia e' cosi' indietro? Per un sovrapporsi di motivi. Il primo e' culturale: si sta capendo con i soliti 5 anni di ritardo che Internet obbliga a ripensare le Universita' da cima e fondo. Prima o poi ci arriveremo, ma intanto si creano i gap che hai notato anche tu. Il secondo, ben piu' rilevante, e' organizzativo: fino a oggi il materiale didattico e' stato disseminato in maniera perlopiu' anarchica, secondo quanto decide ogni singolo docente. Il quale, il piu' delle volte, restringe ai suoi soli studenti l'accesso al materiale, al fine di evitare grane o problemi di vario tipo (a volte immaginari). Il passaggio ad un portale di Ateneo implicherebbe, per rimanere all'essenziale: -la creazione di vincoli-incentivi per i docenti, -personale tecnico-amministrativo-bibliotecario che crei e curi il portale, -definizione e gestione di workflow ex novo. Tale passaggio, nella situazione attuale delle universita' italiana, e' molto difficile implementarlo a dovere. Mancano, infatti, sia fondi sia personale. Tanto per dare un'idea, il progetto OpenCourseWare del MIT e' costato piu' di 60 milioni di dollari. E continua a costare, anche adesso a regime, milioni di dollari all'anno per mantenerlo. Anche ipotizzando di fare le cose molto piu' in economia (si puo'), come immaginare di fare qualcosa quando, causa i tagli del Ministero, nel 2010 saranno a rischio gli stipendi anche in universita' bene amministrate e con i conti a posto? Sai, di recente ho incontrato colleghi con due universita' paragonabili al Politecnico di Torino per numero di studenti, l'Universita' di Edinburgo e l'Universita' di Barcellona. In entrambi i casi, il numero di docenti era circa il doppio (circa 2000), ma cio' che strabiliava era l'entita' del personale tecnico-amministrativo-bibliotecario, pari a circa SEI VOLTE quella del Politecnico. Sono proprio quelle persone, colte e motivate, che renderebbero possibili, insieme a fondi, iniziative come portali del materiale didattico, portali della ricerca e molte altre cose ancora in Italia. In conclusione, la buona volonta' in diversi casi non manca. Occorrerebbe pero' dotarla di mezzi adeguati, con un serio programma di ristrutturazione e rilancio dell'intero sistema della ricerca e dell'istruzione superiore italiana. Ma forse questo e' un altro thread. Spero di essere stato utile. Ciao, a presto, juan carlos David Orban wrote (on 21-09-2009 14:09): > Uso questo thread per un argomento parallelo. Ho visto su > http://www.ocwconsortium.org/members/consortium-members.html che non > ci sono Università italiane che aderiscono all'Open Courseware > Consortium. Ce ne sono 38 spagnole, tre olandesi, dell'Iran, Sud > Africa, ecc. nonché più di un centinaio degli USA. > > Nessuna Università italiana... Nelle Università italiane i corsi > online sono a numero chiuso. Evidentemente internet si satura. Oppure > finiscono l'inchiostro per le pagine web. Non per gli esami: è chiusa > l'iscrizione per vedere i materiali dei corsi! > > Mi interessa approfondire quali sono i meccanismi che hanno creato > questa situazione e come scardinarli. > Qualcuno ha delle informazioni in merito? > > David Orban > skype, twitter, linkedin, sl, etc: davidorban > > > 2009/9/17 J.C. DE MARTIN <demartin(a)polito.it>: > >> -------- Original Message -------- >> Subject: [Oa-italia] 5 università firmano uno statement per sostenere il >> modello author-pays >> Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:12:21 +0200 >> From: Maria Cassella <maria.cassella(a)unito.it> >> Reply-To: Lista di discussione su temi relativi all'accesso aperto >> <oa-italia(a)openarchives.it> >> To: Lista di discussione su temi relativi all'accesso aperto >> <oa-italia(a)openarchives.it> >> >> 5 università (Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, >> MIT e UC Berkeley) hanno firmato uno *statement* congiunto per sostenere >> "reasonable publication charges for articles written by its faculty and >> published in fee-based open-access journals" . >> la notizia su Library Journal >> http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6696797.html?rssid=191 >> saluti >> mc >> >> -- >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> OA-Italia mailing list >> OA-Italia(a)openarchives.it >> http://openarchives.it/mailman/listinfo/oa-italia >> PLEIADI: http://www.openarchives.it/pleiadi/ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> nexa mailing list >> nexa(a)server-nexa.polito.it >> https://server-nexa.polito.it/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nexa >> >> >> > >

Oct. 4, 2009

Fw: [CREIS] INRIA et le logiciel libre

by Mariella Berra

----- Original Message ----- From: "Jacques Vetois (au lieu de chantal richard <le.creis(a)orange.fr>)" <jacquesvetois(a)yahoo.fr> To: <membres(a)creis.sgdg.org> Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 2:02 PM Subject: [CREIS] INRIA et le logiciel libre Bonjour, une information qui peut vous interesser : L'INRIA annonce la création du Centre d'innovation et de recherche en informatique sur le logiciel libre, un projet fédérateur porté par Roberto Di Cosmo pour créer un lieu de recherche et d'innovation pour le logiciel libre ouvert à tous les acteurs de la chaine de l'innovation <http://www.inria.fr/actualites/espace-presse/cp/pre201.fr.html> Amicalement Jacques Vetois

Oct. 3, 2009

cc.org: "Dutch Public Broadcaster VPRO Releases CC-licensed Documentaries"

by J.C. DE MARTIN

http://creativecommons.org/weblog/entry/18128 Dutch Public Broadcaster VPRO Releases CC-licensed Documentaries Fred Benenson, October 1st, 2009 Paul Keller, one of our project leads for CC Netherlands just let us know about an exciting development from their public broadcaster, VPRO, who on Wednesday released 2 full length (and one more coming soon) documentaries under our CC-BY-NC-SA licenses. What’s great is that these documentaries are current pieces, not old selections from the back catalog or archives – they’ve all aired within the last 10 days. Additionally, VPRO is also offering DVDs of the films for sale. The documentaries, available in both Dutch and English are available to download in an almost-HD resolution of 640 by 380, but are also posted on mininova.org here and here. Here’s an excerpt from the project’s press release: According to Bregtje van der Haak, coordinator of the VPRO’s Century of the City project, releasing these documentaries under a Creative Commons license contributes to efforts to better serve the VPRO’s public: “We are producing a lot of documentaries that are of interest to specialized communities. In the case of urbanization this includes architects, urban planners and students. From research we know that a growing segment of the VPRO’s audience is watching less and less television but continues to highly value this type of content. By offering content for download we are increasing the life cycle of these programs and enable a whole number of new forms of re-use of our productions. As a public broadcaster we have the obligation to make our productions available to the public in an as flexible manner as possible.” Congratulations to VPRO!

Oct. 2, 2009

EU post-i2010 consultation

by J.C. DE MARTIN

Buongiorno a tutti, mi permetto di ricercarvi che il 9 ottobre 2009 (tra una settimana) scadono i termini per partecipare alla consultazione: "Post-i2010: priorities for new strategy for European information society (2010-2015)' " Il form e' relativamente semplice, con alcune domande a risposta multipla e alcune aperte, per cui non prende molto tempo partecipare, a titolo individuale o a nome di un'organizzazione (se ci sono i presupposti, ovviamente). Il form e' disponibile qui: http://ec.europa.eu/yourvoice/ipm/forms/dispatch?form=posti2010 Alcune delle domande (e delle risposte suggerite) sono di grande interesse per chi e' interessato a preservare un'Internet aperta, per cui prendete in seria considerazione l'ipotesi di partecipare anche voi. un caro saluto, juan carlos

Oct. 2, 2009

CfP: The Politics of Open Source

by Andrea Calderaro

Ciao a tutti, spero che questo possa interessare a qualcuno. 8<-------------------- http://www.umass.edu/jitp/files/2010_cfp.pdf JITP-2010 “The Politics of Open Source” May 6-7, 2010 - Amherst, Massachusetts Full Paper Submission Due Date: January 10, 2010 AThe Politics of Open Source is the 2nd annual thematic conference organized by the Journal of Information Technology and Politics (JITP). The conference seeks to examine a range of political issues tied to the free and open source movement(s) including, but not limited to, open source and democratic engagement, government adoption policies, interoperability and open standards, political mobilization, regulation, and the digital divide. The Program Committee encourages both disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of open source and welcomes international perspectives and research exploring open source in non-traditional domains. A complete call for papers is available at www.umass.edu/jitp. Keynote Speakers: - Eric von Hippel (MIT) - Cristopher M. Kelty (UCLA) - Clay Johnson (Sunlight Labs) Paper Submissions Authors are invited to prepare and submit to JITP a manuscript following one of the six submission formats by January 10, 2010. These formats include research papers, policy viewpoints, workbench notes, review essays, book reviews, and papers on teaching innovation. The goal is to produce a special issue, or double issue, of JITP with a wide variety of approaches to the broad theme of "The Politics of Open Source." Program Committee M.V. Lee Badgett, University of Massachusetts Amherst Paul M.A. Baker, Georgia Institute of Technology Deborah Bryant, Oregon State University Open Source Lab Andrea Calderaro, European University Institute Mark Cassell, Kent State University Edward Cherlin, Earth Treasury Gabriella Coleman, New York University Doug Downham, University of Massachusetts Amherst Robert English, Daystar Computing & University of Massachusetts Amherst Joseph Feller, University College Cork Jelena Karanovic, Rutgers University Dave Karpf, University of Pennsylvania/Miller Center for Public Affairs Jeremy Hunsinger, Virginia Tech Andrea Kavanaugh, Virginia Tech Jose Marichal, California Lutheran University Jens Hardings Perl, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Charlie Schweik, University of Massachusetts Amherst, co-chair Stuart Shulman, University of Massachusetts Amherst, co-chair Megan Squire, Elon University Krishna Ravi Srinivas, Research Information System For Developing Nations Louis Suarez-Potts, Sun Microsystems, Inc. & OpenOffice.org Anas Tawileh, Cardiff University & Meedan.net _________________________________ Andrea Calderaro Department of Social and Political Sciences European University Institute Italy ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---- PERSONAL PAGE: http://www.calderaro.caltech.edu CV: http://www.calderaro.caltech.edu/CalderaroCV.pdf P Please don't print this e-mail unless you really need to.

Oct. 2, 2009

CS: 20 associazioni di Frontiere Digitali per la libertà della rete

by a.dicorinto＠uniroma1.it

Manifestazione per la libertà in rete Le associazioni di Frontiere Digitali aderiscono alla manifestazione del 3 Ottobre per la libertà d'informazione Frontiere Digitali Comunicato stampa 29 Settembre 2009 Lo scarso impegno della politica nella diffusione della banda larga sul territorio e nell’alfabetizzazione informatica della popolazione e l’inarrestabile susseguirsi di iniziative legislative volte a scoraggiare l’utilizzo della Rete come veicolo di diffusione ed accesso all’informazione costituiscono indici sintomatici della ferma volontà di non consentire che la Rete giochi il ruolo che le è proprio: primo vero mezzo di comunicazione di massa ed esercizio della libertà di manifestazione del pensiero nella storia dell’umanità. L’emendamento D’Alia sui filtraggi governativi dei contenuti, il DDL Carlucci contro ogni forma di anonimato, il disegno di legge Lussana finalizzato ad accorciare la memoria della Rete, il DDL Alfano attraverso il quale si vorrebbero applicare all’intera blogosfera le disposizioni in tema di obbligo di rettifica nate per la sola carta stampata e, infine, il DDL Pecorella-Costa con il quale ci si prefigge l’obiettivo di trasformare ex lege l’intera Rete in un immenso quotidiano e trattare tutti i suoi utenti da giornalisti, direttori o editori di giornali non possono lasciare indifferenti. Esiste il rischio, ed è elevato, che ci si risvegli un giorno non troppo lontano e ci si accorga che la Rete è spenta e che la prima e l’ultima speranza di uno spazio per l’informazione libera è naufragata. Muovendo da tali premesse riteniamo importante che la blogosfera italiana partecipi alla manifestazione del 3 ottobre per la libertà di informazione, sottolineando che esiste una “questione informazione in Rete” che non può e non deve passare inosservata perché se la libertà della stampa concerne il presente quella della blogsfera riguarda, oltre il presente, il futuro prossimo di ciascuno di noi. L’auspicio è pertanto che quanti hanno a cuore le sorti dell’informazione in Rete, il 3 ottobre aderiscano alla manifestazione chiedendo alla politica che, in futuro, ogni iniziativa governativa o legislativa si ispiri a questi elementari principi di libertà e democrazia che costituiscono la versione moderna dell’art. 11 della dichiarazione universale dei diritti dell’uomo e del cittadino: La libera comunicazione dei pensieri e delle opinioni è uno dei diritti più preziosi per l'uomo: quindi ogni cittadino può parlare, scrivere, pubblicare in Rete liberamente, salvo a rispondere dell'abuso di questa libertà nei casi determinati dalla legge. Nessun sito internet può formare oggetto di sequestro o di altro provvedimento che ne limiti o impedisca l’accesso se non in forza di un provvedimento emesso dall’Autorità giudiziaria nell’ambito di un giusto processo. L’attività di informazione online di tipo non professionistico e non gestita in forma imprenditoriale è libera ed il suo svolgimento non può essere soggetto ad alcun genere di registrazione o altro adempimento burocratico. La disciplina sulla stampa e quella sull’editoria non si applicano alle attività di informazione online svolte in forma non professionistica ed imprenditoriale. Nessuno deve venir molestato per le sue opinioni, fossero anche sediziose, purché la loro manifestazione non turbi l'ordine pubblico stabilito dalla legge. Firmato 1.Amici di Beppe Grillo di Roma 2.Artisopensource : Referente Salvatore Iaconesi 3.Associazione Liber Liber, Referente: Marco Calvo 4.Associazione Linux Club Italia, Referente: Roberto Tupone 5.Associazione Net-Left, Referente: Sergio Bellucci 6.Associazione Orchestra Panharmonikon, Referente: Giuseppe Puopolo 7.Associazione Partito Pirata, Referente: Athos Gualazzi 8.Associazione Il Secolo Della Rete, Referente: Giovanna Sissa 9.Associazione UnaRete: Referente Flava Marzano 10.Associazione Wikimedia Italia, Referente: Frieda Brioschi 11.Flyer Communication, Referente: Gianluca Del Gobbo 12.Free Hardware Foundation, Referente: Arturo Di Corinto 13.Collettivo iQuindici, Referente: Francesco Valotto 14.ISOTYPE, network di liberi professionisti, Referente: Lorenzo De Tomasi 15.Istituto per le politiche dell'innovazione, Referente: Guido Scorza 16.Liberius, Sportello di consulenza legale, Referente: Ermanno Pandoli 17.Movimento Scambio Etico, Referente: Paolo Brini 18.REFF/RomaEuropa Fake Factory, Referente: Oriana Persico, Salvatore Iaconesi 19.The house of love and dissent, Referente: Marco Delli Santi 20.Unione degli Studenti (U.d.S.), Referente: Mauro Di Palma Cos’è Frontiere Digitali Frontiere Digitali è uno spazio di libera auto-organizzazione di persone e opinioni e nasce a Roma (Italia) nel dicembre del 2005, quale strumento collaborativo, per l'organizzazione della Settimana delle Libertà Digitali che ha avuto luogo dal 18 al 21 gennaio 2006. In seguito, il 28 marzo 2006, in occasione del convegno l'Innovazione necessaria: Creatività, cooperazione, condivisione, tante associazioni e singoli si sono incontrati confrontandosi sull’idea e sugli strumenti per sostenere e rafforzare questa rete di collaborazioni. http://www.frontieredigitali.net

Oct. 2, 2009

Primo IGF USA

by Antonella Giulia Pizzaleo

Buonasera, rinnovando a tutti l'invito a partecipare al prossimo Internet Governance Forum Italia (Pisa 5-7 ottobre 2009; www.igf-italia.it) segnalo una notizia molto importante per il processo degli IGF: il 2 ottobre prossimo si svolgerà il primo IGF statunitense http://www.igf-usa.us/page/program-1 Vi saluto, antonella -- Antonella Giulia Pizzaleo mobile: +39 3496064133 email: pizzaleo(a)gmail.com skype: antonellagiulia

Sept. 29, 2009

[Fwd: [A2k] KEI statement to 2009 WIPO General Assembly on SCCR work program]

by J.C. DE MARTIN

Segnalo questo intervento dei KEI alla WIPO General Assembly. jc -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [A2k] KEI statement to 2009 WIPO General Assembly on SCCR work program Date: Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:10:35 -0400 From: James Love <jamespackardlove(a)gmail.com> To: a2k <a2k(a)lists.essential.org> Source URL: http://keionline.org/kei2009wipo-ga-sccr KEI statement to 2009 WIPO General Assembly on SCCR work program 28 Sept 2009 The following is the written statement for the record that KEI has provided to the WIPO General Assembly, on the topic of the work program for the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). -------------- Congratulations on your election, and on the election of the vice-chairs Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) recommends that the topic of the broadcast treaty be removed from the SCCR agenda, for the following reasons. 1. the theft of copyrighted signals from broadcasting organizations is already illegal under copyright and regulatory laws. There is no evidence that new laws are needed to address this issue, and there is also no evidence that a treaty dealing exclusively with signal piracy will receive support from broadcasters. Broadcasters are actually seeking a new and expanded intellectual property right (IPR) in programs they assemble and distribute, but do not create. 2. Any new intellectual property rights for broadcasters will come at the expense of both consumers and the creative communities who are protected by copyright. New IPR for broadcasters will present additional layers of rights that will make it more costly and difficult to reuse information in ways that are legitimate under copyright laws. 3. Work on a broadcast treaty will come at the expense of work on copyright limitations and exceptions, which is more important for the public, to address important social needs. KEI encourages the SCCR to focus on a robust work program on copyright limitations and exceptions that addresses a broad set of exceptions, including those dealing with people with disabilities, libraries, education, distance education, archives, orphaned works, innovative services, translations, excessive pricing and the control of other anti-competitive practices. KEI does not believe that deep harmonization of all copyright limitations and exceptions is needed or appropriate in most cases. In general, it will be best if the global rules provide for the appropriate level of freedom to operate, so that national laws can experiment to find ways to balance and protect both consumers and creative communities, while using a diversity of approaches consistent with domestic legal traditions and values. However, in some special cases, global norms will be useful, including (in some cases) minimum limitations and exceptions for copyright. In particular, where cross-border uses of works or technologies are necessary, some global norms will be needed to stimulate public and private investments in such services. For example, cross-border uses that will or may benefit from global norms include: 1. the sharing of accessible works for persons who are blind or have other disabilities; 2. distance education, delivered across borders; 3. the cross border sharing of works by libraries; 4. the regulation of Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Technical Protection Measures (TPMs), as they relate to the exercise of legitimate uses of works, or the control of anti-competitive practices; and 5. the development of some innovative services, In future years, the SCCR may find it productive to consider new global rules for compulsory licensing of recorded music or orphaned works. The SCCR should also review the Appendix to the Berne, to determine if it has been successful in meeting its objectives, and if a new version of the Appendix is needed to improve its usefulness and relevance in addressing the objectives of the WIPO development agenda. Global norms are durable, and should be done correctly. While some of these projects are ready now, others may take many years before sufficient analysis, consultation and consensus emerges and there is a strong basis for global norm setting. A treaty for sharing works in accessible formats for persons who have reading disabilities can be done now, and is long overdue. WIPO considered global norms for this issue as early as 1982, and has received frequent petitions from the disabilities community to act. The proposal by Brazil, Equator and Paraguay provides a good basis for negotiations. In this regard, it should be noted that SCCR18/5 is inclusive in terms of reading disabilities, and provides countries considerable flexibility in terms of implementation on topics such as the works that are “legally available” for import under the exception, and the role of trusted intermediaries. The SCCR will of course find it useful to strengthen the proposal in certain areas, and KEI looks forward to the discussion at SCCR 19. KEI notes the work of WIPO on the Stakeholder Platform, and the concerns of developing countries regarding the need for transparency and participation by persons in developing countries. KEI is concerned that publishers have not participated directly in this process so far, and are instead represented by lobbyists for trade associations – people who cannot actually commit to licensing works for global distribution. KEI is concerned that some delegations have presented the stakeholder platform as a substitute for a global norm on the export and import of works created under a copyright exception. This is an uninformed and cruel misreading of mountains of evidence of the barriers to equality faced by the disabilities community. Other WIPO delegates have suggested privately that the needs of the reading disabilities community can be satisfied by a statement at the WIPO General Assembly that the exporting and importing of works created under an exception comport with the TRIPS and the Berne, leaving the implementation up to national action, without a treaty instrument. While such an approach does offer some benefits, it will predictably have far less benefit than a treaty instrument, which will certainly lead to greater use of the cross-border sharing of works. The best evidence of the importance of a treaty or binding trade agreements is the vigor with which the copyright owners themselves press for such measures at WIPO, and fora outside of WIPO. Why has WIPO considered the WCT and the WPPT, and more recently a treaty for broadcasters or audiovisual performances, if not for the fact that a treaty itself is the most powerful way to advance a new global norm, and to promote implementation of that norm? If WIPO only provides a declaration that imports and exports are legally allowed, but fails to provide a framework for authorizing the cross border sharing of accessible works, many countries will take years, and perhaps never change their laws to create the enabling legal environment. Just as the WCT was designed to accelerate the adoption of legal protections of DRM/TPM measures, and to provide for a common framework for expansions of other rights for copyright owners, the treaty for reading disabilities is design to promote rapid implementation of a new global platform for sharing accessible works. Work on disabilities should be considered an issue of human rights, and a logical implementation of obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. While a treaty for sharing accessible formats of works is consistent with the Development Agenda, KEI cautions WIPO against framing such a treaty as a developing country issue only. Persons with reading disabilities live everywhere, have very different levels of access to technologies, and use different languages. The benefits of an expanded sharing of works will be particularly important for countries that need access to accessible works from foreign countries, and have the capacity to use them. Work on reading disabilities should not be delayed until a broader work program on copyright limitations and exceptions is completed, and indeed, neither should work on distance education, libraries or other topics be limited by requirements that the entire work program be finished. For norm setting, the SCCR should move each project forward when it is ready – not before, and not much after. In the case of reading disabilities, the SCCR should aim to authorize a diplomatic conference at the 2010 General Assembly meeting. That diplomatic conference should be held as early as Spring 2011. Work on other norm setting activities involving limitations and exceptions should go forward in parallel, including but not limited to proposals that may be offered in the areas of distance education and libraries. _______________________________________________ A2k mailing list A2k(a)lists.essential.org http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/a2k

Sept. 28, 2009

QdN: "Act now! The future of EU Internet may be sealed tonight."

by J.C. DE MARTIN

http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… Act now! The future of EU Internet may be sealed tonight. By /pi/ Created /27 Sep 2009 - 20:06/ Brussels, September 28th - *The first conciliation meeting on the Telecoms Package will take place tonight at 9:30PM. In this meeting, 27 Members of the European Parliament and 27 representatives of the Council of EU will decide on the future of Internet in Europe. They will choose whether to fix or maintain the dreadful anti-Net neutrality dispositions voted in second reading by the Parliament, under the influence of AT&T. Rapporteurs and representatives of the Swedish Presidency opposed this idea so far. European citizens only have a few hours to urge MEPs to preserve Europe's innovation, competition, and citizen's fundamental rights.* The inaugural meeting of Conciliation phase on the Telecoms Package will gather 27 Members of the European Parliament delegation, and 27 representatives of the ministers of the Member States, on Monday, September 28th, at 9:30PM. During this procedure, the whole European regulatory framework of the Internet will be negotiated. In the first meeting, members of the committe will decide on the crucial perimeter of the negotiations. From this decision will depend the fate of Net neutrality in Europe. So far, the rapporteur Catherine Trautmann and the minister in charge for the Swedish Presidency Åsa Torstensson expressed their will to deal only with the "amendment 138", which the Council wants to get rid of1 <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnote1_g2luyzn> [1]. This would mean that the dreadful provisions allowing operators to kill Net neutrality in order to get control of the Internet2 <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnote2_odnzyb3> [2]. These provisions allowing for limiting access to Internet services and applications, voted in second reading under influence by AT&T <http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/technology/08iht-neutral.1.20669185.html?…> [3]3 <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnote3_0casbx2> [4], would then become law in Europe. */"Trautmann and Torstensson are trying to make everyone believe that Net neutrality should be dealt separately, after the Telecoms Package, but this is just a bad excuse. They know that Net neutrality is already in the Telecoms Package, because AT&T amendments allows operators to kill it to take control of the Net. They must admit it and do what is best for Europe's competitiveness and citizens's fundamental rights, at any cost. Internet is much more important for the future of our societies than the efficiency of the EU legislative process."/* explains Jérémie Zimmermann, spokesperson for citizen advocacy group La Quadrature du Net. Citizens from all Member States have a few hours left to call <http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Call_conciliation_MEPs_sept28> [5] all the Members of the European Parliament delegation in the conciliation committee4 <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnote4_b9wl4u5> [6]. They can find arguments in the letter sent to them by La Quadrature <http://www.laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-20090928-Letter_to_the_…> [7]5 <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnote5_mi6sagd> [8] along with the Open letter <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/we-must-protect-net-neutrality-in-europe-ope…> [9]6 <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnote6_z7rd074> [10] signed by more than 70 NGOs across 15 Member States (including ISOC, CCC, Reporters without Borders, and major consumers unions) , in a 2-pager memo <http://laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-20090922-Note_Protecting_Ne…> [11] and in a complete 22-pages dossier about Net neutrality <http://laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-DOSSIER_Protecting_Net_Neut…> [12]. */"Conciliation must leave room for a clear legislative statement affirming that the fundamental principles of a non-discriminatory Internet have higher status than the short-term convenience of specific interest business models. It is very important that citizens who love the Internet act together now. We need to use this unique opportunity to help European lawmakers avoid making an irremediable mistake. "/* concludes Zimmermann. 1. 1. <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnoteref1_g2luyzn> [13] Amendment 138 states that restrictions to fundamental rights and freedoms such as access to the Internet must be subject to a prior ruling by the judicial authority. This was confirmed by a decision of the highest French jurisdiction, the Consitutional council, on the "three strikes" policy. The Council added that "In the current state of the means of communication and given the generalized development of public online communication services and the importance of the latter for the participation in democracy and the expression of ideas and opinions, this right implies freedom to access such services." 2. 2. <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnoteref2_odnzyb3> [14] Located in Articles 20.1.b and 21.3.b of the Universal Service Directive, it allows for "conditions limiting access to and/or use of services and applications". 3. 3. <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnoteref3_0casbx2> [15] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/technology/08iht-neutral.1.20669185.html?… 4. 4. <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnoteref4_b9wl4u5> [16] A specific campagne page: http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Call_conciliation_MEPs_sept28 5. 5. <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnoteref5_mi6sagd> [17] http://www.laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-20090928-Letter_to_the_… 6. 6. <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/print/2356#footnoteref6_z7rd074> [18] Open letter "We must save Net neutrality!" with full list of signatories: http://www.laquadrature.net/en/we-must-protect-net-neutrality-in-europe-ope… * telecoms package <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/tag/themes/telecom-package> * Net neutrality | Net discrimination <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/tag/themes/net-discrimination> * Harbour <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/tag/personnalites/harbour> * Trautmann <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/tag/personnalites/trautmann> * Torstensson <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/torstensson> * press release <http://www.laquadrature.net/en/tag/types-de-documents/press-release> (CC)BySa - La Quadrature du Net - 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Source URL:* http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… *Links:* [1] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [2] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [3] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/technology/08iht-neutral.1.20669185.html?… [4] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [5] http://www.laquadrature.net/wiki/Call_conciliation_MEPs_sept28 [6] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [7] http://www.laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-20090928-Letter_to_the_… [8] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [9] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/we-must-protect-net-neutrality-in-europe-ope… [10] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [11] http://laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-20090922-Note_Protecting_Ne… [12] http://laquadrature.net/files/LaQuadratureduNet-DOSSIER_Protecting_Net_Neut… [13] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [14] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [15] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [16] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [17] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea… [18] http://www.laquadrature.net/en/act-now-the-future-of-eu-internet-may-be-sea…

Sept. 28, 2009