Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
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Blog covering current copyright and international trade and investment issues by Hugh Stephens. Mr Stephens is a Senior Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and he is also the Vice Chair at the Canadian Committee on Pacific Economic Cooperation (PECC).
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
6d ago
Image: http://www.shutterstock.com (under licence) Apart from the budding of leaves, the rites of spring are marked by another annual phenomenon, the issuance of the annual Special 301 Report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), widely known as the USTR Watch List. For those not steeped in US trade law, the Special ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
2w ago
Image: Shutterstock.com Canada not the US when it comes to copyright—or anything else. This should be a statement of the obvious, but in fact all too often Canadians get confused about how copyright (and other) laws work in this country because of the overwhelming influence of US entertainment and, to a lesser extent, US media ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
1M ago
Image: Shutterstock Two years ago, in April 2022, the US Copyright Office (USCO) appointed its first Chief Economist, Dr. Brent Lutes. Many national Intellectual Property Offices have such a position, e.g, UK IPO, IP Australia, EUIPO, and WIPO. (Notably, Canada’s Intellectual Property Office–CIPO–does not). All these positions have broad responsibility for assessing the economics of ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
1M ago
Image: Shutterstock Immigrants who take up a new life in what is often a culturally very different country from their original homeland naturally seek out the familiar by associating with those from “home” as part of the adaptation process. This is certainly true of the Indian diaspora, in Canada as elsewhere. Part of that comforting ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
1M ago
Photo: Author If you know all about the Public Lending Right (PLR) program in Canada, you probably don’t need this reminder. However, if you don’t and are a Canadian (citizen or resident) writer, editor, translator, photographer, illustrator, or narrator who has published a printed, audio or e-book with an ISBN number in the last five ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
1M ago
My daughter’s (copyrighted) art, circa 1990, age 5 (Used with permission) It is rare that a copyright story makes the national news, in Canada or elsewhere, but this one had all the needed ingredients. A teacher exploiting students, irate parents, and a possibly negligent school board. What’s not to like? The Canadian Press reported that ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
2M ago
Image: Flags of the World (Used with permission) No, this flag is not an April Fool’s joke, although I am posting this on April 1. As a flag design, it’s a dog’s breakfast. Not that a registered design has to be aesthetically appealing, but it needs to be original. And this one is original, in ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
2M ago
Image: Shutterstock My curiosity was piqued by the email that popped up in my inbox. “DMCA Copyright Infringement Notice”. Should I open it or ignore it? I took the plunge. Immediately my sphincter puckered, and a frisson went down my spine as I read it was from one Alicia Weber, Trademark Attorney, with Nationwide Legal ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
2M ago
Image: iStock Japan has always been known for its strong creative sector and rich cultural output, from animé to manga to literature, music and film, and for its respect for intellectual property (IP) and the rights of creators. Compared to some of its neighbours in the region, it has been a pillar of respect for ..read more
Hugh Stephens Blog – Insights on International Copyright Issues
3M ago
Image: Shutterstock For those of you who may have missed it, this is “Fair Use and Fair Dealing” week, sponsored once again this year by the Association of Research Libraries in the US and the Canadian Association of Research Libraries in Canada. I have written blog posts on fair use/fair dealing for the past couple ..read more