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What is copyright?


Copyright is a legal device that gives the creator of an original work the exclusive right to publish and control copying and adaptation of the work for a specific period of time. Copyright protection has been extended over time to cover many forms of creative expression including literary works, sound and video recording, graphic works and computer programs. With certain exceptions, use of material covered by copyright is illegal except with the express permission of the copyright owner.

Articles Tagged - copyright

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Is jury question a signal in Oracle v. Google?
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Is jury question a signal in Oracle v. Google?
A question on the nature of fair use by the jury deliberating Oracle's infringement suit against may be a sign the tide has turned for one or the other. Find out which
More criticism for anti-piracy agreement in Europe
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
More criticism for anti-piracy agreement in Europe
Objectors complain expanded copyright law won't automatically help creators and it pushes changes in Internet governance that are "ludicrous and dangerous"
Interview: Bill C-11 and CIPPIC
Monday, April 02, 2012
Interview: Bill C-11 and CIPPIC
RADIO ITWC This week, David Fewer from CIPPIC joins us to talk about Bill C-11 and copyright law in Canada
Domain seizures for copyright breach to go global
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Domain seizures for copyright breach to go global
ICANN promises to co-operate closer with governments and law enforcement agencies at the organization's international conference
EC to send counterfeiting bill to court
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
EC to send counterfeiting bill to court
Politicians yield to presssure, send the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement to court interpretation. Meanwhile, Canada has yet to implement the pact
SOPA and PIPA: What went wrong?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
SOPA and PIPA: What went wrong?
Why a Web campaign derailed three powerful and well-funded trade groups that pushed hard for laws that could have cut U.S. access to suspect foreign Web sites
Opposition rises in Congress to U.S. copyright bills
Friday, January 20, 2012
Opposition rises in Congress to U.S. copyright bills
Senators seem to be responding to public pressure as one bill is called dead and a vote on another is delayed. However, proponents aren't giving up
Oracle offers to drop patent charges against Google
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Oracle offers to drop patent charges against Google
Oracle may be sacrificing the patent charges in hopes of getting an injunction soon
Year in review: July 2011
Friday, January 06, 2012
Year in review: July 2011
A group of major IT companies -- including RIM, Microsoft and Apple -- circle the waters for pieces of Nortel Network Corp; Microsoft retires Office XP and Vista SP1; Oracle releases Java update after five long years
U.S. copyright hearing goes into 2012
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
U.S. copyright hearing goes into 2012
So far, the committee has voted down about 20 amendments designed to address concerns by Web-based companies, Web security experts and digital rights groups
Supporters defend U.S. online piracy bill
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Supporters defend U.S. online piracy bill
Sponsors of the controversial act say its needed to shut down Websites trafficking in billions of dollars in pirated material. Opponents, including Google, say legitimate sites might be punished
U.S. copyright bill may hit legal sites: Report
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
U.S. copyright bill may hit legal sites: Report
A lobby group says coming legislation will hold online services such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube liable for everything posted by users
Copyright reform law returns with digital locks rule
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Copyright reform law returns with digital locks rule
But much of the details from last year’s controversial bill has stayed the same, with a digital locks rule at the centre of the legislation. Plus, commentary from ITAC and Internet law professor Michael Geist
Microsoft led-consortium filing is 'political': expert
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Microsoft led-consortium filing is 'political': expert
A consortium of companies including Microsoft, Apple, Oracle and EMC has withdrawn a filing to buy Novell patents, but one expert thinks it’s really about politics and nothing to do with patent law
New version of copyright pact gets mixed reviews
Thursday, October 07, 2010
New version of copyright pact gets mixed reviews
Critics say a new version of the proposed trade agreement is improved from earlier drafts
Microsoft boosts access to secure development docs
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Microsoft boosts access to secure development docs
The Redmond giant hopes more developers will take up SDL best practices with a move to Creative Commons license
Google calls Oracle lawsuit 'baseless,' vows to fight it
Friday, August 13, 2010
Google calls Oracle lawsuit 'baseless,' vows to fight it
Google fires back at Oracle’s claim of patent and copyright infringements in Google’s use of Oracle’s Java technology
Apple loses bid to criminalize iPhone jailbreaking
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Apple loses bid to criminalize iPhone jailbreaking
Federal ruling says jailbreaking 'innocuous at worst, beneficial at best'
ISPs await new version of copyright act
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
ISPs await new version of copyright act
Providers are on alert after a report says the amendments will come in weeks, but won’t go further than obliging providers to pass on warnings to alleged pirates. However, the head of one ISP association wonders what the rush is
Leaked ACTA draft treaty reveals plans for Net clampdown
Friday, February 19, 2010
Leaked ACTA draft treaty reveals plans for Net clampdown
A group in which Canada is a member has reportedly drafted a treaty that would require signatories to make ISPs liable for the content their subscribers transfer. A source leaked a document from ACTA would force ISPs to prove it tried to prevent copyright abuse, in order to avoid being sued by movie or music makers
DOJ gives thumbs down to Google book search settlement
Friday, February 05, 2010
DOJ gives thumbs down to Google book search settlement
In a big blow to Google's efforts to build a massive digital-books marketplace and library, the U.S. Department of Justice has come out against the revised agreement to settle copyright lawsuits brought against Google by authors and publishers.
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