Category Archives: regulation

A Humane Approach to Copyright Term

Posted on December 31, 2012 by ratpie

As the increasingly frantic public domain regurgitation business trawls through 1942 deaths of authors and composers (sadly we shall have to wait another 4 years for a copyright free revival of Chu Chin Chow unless someone wants to set the … Continue reading →

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Yet Another Private Internet

Posted on December 18, 2012 by ratpie

Lobbyists sometimes try to simplify issues, for policy makers and for grassroots and other supporters, and one of the most potent ideas surrounding Internet policy is that what you don’t like will ‘break the Internet’. Here’s John Naughton neatly encapsulating … Continue reading →

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What Happened to Vint Cerf?

Posted on October 27, 2012 by ratpie

This August, 2012, on FT.com Vint Cerf was quoted in an article about the upcoming UN discussions over Internet governance. But Mr Cerf says that pricing structures are antithetical to the internet as they could stifle innovation. “When Larry Page … Continue reading →

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Orphans Don’t Belong in Collective Farms

Posted on July 8, 2012 by ratpie

The case for exemptions from copyright for some limited purposes, such as preserving our cultural heritage, or advancing scholarship, is surely uncontroversial. Who would really argue that old photographs or diaries, letters home, and the ephemera of life should not … Continue reading →

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How Art Changes the Architecture of the Internet

Posted on June 1, 2012 by ratpie

Reading Neelie Kroes’ recent blog post on net neutrality (link updated Dec 2017) reminded me of a startling presentation that was given to Nanog in 2009 (I was not there so was thankful that the slides were made available here) which … Continue reading →

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Some Numbers In The Digital Music Industry

Posted on March 30, 2012 by ratpie

There are now very few barriers to entry in the digital music industry, if you are lucky enough to be middle class in a developed economy. Production tools are essentially free if you have a computer; broadband connects you to … Continue reading →

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Hooper’s DCE Probe is Artists’ Best Hope for Transparency

Posted on January 9, 2012 by ratpie

While there will be a lot of whining about yet more reviews and enquiries, the latest phase in music’s troubled relationship with Government represents the best and perhaps only hope for artists to reset the relationship with their record label … Continue reading →

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A Simple Suggestion for Copyright Policymakers

Posted on December 29, 2011 by ratpie

This simple suggestion is offered to copyright policymakers around the world. Copyright economies are complex. So complex that your most carefully designed reforms are likely to have consequences you could not foresee, and may even damage the sectors or people … Continue reading →

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Unlicensed Downloading Not a Problem in Switzerland

Posted on December 4, 2011 by ratpie

Unlicensed downloading is just as widespread in Switzerland as it is in most well connected and wealthy countries. Being outside of the European Union however allows the Swiss Government to take its own legal and regulatory path. And the Federal … Continue reading →

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Unreasonable and Discriminatory Licensing in Online Music

Posted on November 27, 2011 by ratpie

Some time ago I was asked to provide a note that could be circulated to European ISPs about some of the practices employed by music copyright owners which, in my view, represented obstacles to the growth and health of the … Continue reading →

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