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Report backs need for Euro IP reform

A report prepared by ten leading European thinkers looking at the challenge of managing intellectual property in the 21st century has suggested that Europe needs to make bolder efforts to overhaul its system for patent, copyright and trademark enforcement if it wants to build its digital economy. “Europe’s digital economy desperately needs better conditions in […]

September 11, 2012By Colin Mann

EC’s Kroes: ‘European copyright legislation outdated’

Neelie Kroes, Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, has warned that Europe’s creative sector faces losing out to the US if steps are not taken to reform copyright in the EU, and suggested that a common European solution was needed to avoid fragmentation and to seize benefits for a European Digital […]

September 11, 2012By Colin Mann

MPAA’s Dodds backs Democrat IP platform

A week after coming out in support of the Republican Party’s platform language on intellectual property and Internet freedom, Motion Picture Association of America Chairman Senator Chris Dodd has praised the Democratic Party for recognising the danger of online piracy in its party platform language on intellectual property. “I am extremely pleased that the Democratic […]

September 6, 2012By Colin Mann

EC seeks wireless spectrum boost

The European Commission has unveiled plans to deal with the exponential growth in mobile and wireless data traffic by enabling wireless technologies, including broadband, to share the use of the radio spectrum. The EC notes that with new technologies it is possible to share radio spectrum amongst several users – such as Internet providers – […]

September 4, 2012By Colin Mann

India bans two cable MSOs

India’s government is getting tough over its analogue-to-digital plans. Two Delhi-based cable operators have just had their licences revoked because of their failure to report progress – if any – on their obligations. India’s Information & Broadcasting Ministry has cancelled the licenses held by Home Cable Network and Swami Cable Network, citing their failure for […]

August 31, 2012By Chris Forrester

MPAA’s Dodds backs Republican IP stance

Surprisingly, given that he is a former Democrat Senator, Chris Dodd, Chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), has come out in support of the Republican Party’s platform language on intellectual property and Internet freedom: “The Republican Party platform language strikes a very smart balance,” he said in a statement. “It […]

August 30, 2012By Colin Mann

BSkyB can’t claim ‘instant movies’

ASA, the UK advertising watchdog, has ordered BSkyB to stop exaggerating the speed of its film download service, after rival BT complained its claim that it was “instant” was misleading. BSkyB ran a press ad promoting its new film rental service, Sky Store, marketing it as a “movie store in your home – available instantly […]

August 29, 2012

ivi broadcasting ban upheld

A US federal appeals court has affirmed a 2011 lower court decision blocking ivi TV from streaming broadcasters’ live signals on the Internet. In September 2010, Walt Disney’s ABC, CBS and other broadcasters sued Ivi, an online subscription service, for streaming television programmes over the Web without authorisation. The companies, also including Fox, NBC and […]

August 28, 2012By Colin Mann

Ofcom revokes Praise TV licence

Ofcom has revoked the licence of Praise TV, the religious channel linked to controversial self-proclaimed bishop Gilbert Deya. The channel was broadcast under a licence issued to Destiny Broadcasting Network Europe by the media regulator. Praise TV was hosted pastor Gilbert Deya, a self-styled evangelical bishop from South London, who claimed to deliver “miracle babies” […]

August 28, 2012

Barry Diller sues over BarryDriller.com

Some two weeks after broadcast networks, led by Fox, filed lawsuits against streaming site BarryDriller.com alleging copyright and trademark infringement, media mogul and IAC chairman Barry Diller – backer of the Aereo TV streaming service – has filed a lawsuit in California federal court against site creator Alki David for violating publicity rights and false […]

August 23, 2012By Colin Mann