[Cross-posted please excuse duplication]

Author, educator and copyright lawyer, Lesley Ellen Harris, has asked me to post the following e-letter on her behalf. I hope you will find it helpful.

Sincerely,

Amritha

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FROM THE OFFICES OF LESLEY ELLEN HARRIS

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Vol. 11, No. 1, January 15, 2007

ISSN 1489-954X

Contents:

1. Studies, Legislation and Conventions:

New Zealand Copyright Bill Introduced

Section 1201 Rulemaking

U.K. Rejects Copyright Term Extension on Sound Recordings

2. Legal Cases:

Web Site Authorized Copyright Infringement

Google Reaches Agreement with Belgian Journalists

3. Of Interest:

Canadian ISPs Agree to Block Child Pornography Web Sites

January 1 was Public Domain Day

4. Seminars, Newsletter and Articles:

2007 Online Courses

2007 Volume of The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter

CCC Article on Global Copyright Compliance

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Copyright, New Media & E-Commerce News is distributed for free by the office of Lesley Ellen Harris. Information contained herein should not be relied upon or considered as legal advice. Copyright 2007 Lesley Ellen Harris. This newsletter may be forwarded, downloaded or reproduced in whole in any print or electronic format for non-commercial purposes provided that its author is acknowledged and that you cc: [log in to unmask].

This e-letter, from 1996 to the present, is archived with Library & Archives Canada at: http://epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/201/300/copyright/

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1. STUDIES, LEGISLATION AND CONVENTIONS:

NEW ZEALAND COPYRIGHT BILL INTRODUCED - New Zealand has introduced a new copyright bill, Copyright (New Technologies and Performers' Rights) Amendment Bill.

See: www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/gpprint/docs/bills/20061021.txt

SECTION 1201 RULEMAKING – The U.S. Librarian of Congress has issued a statement related to Section 1201 Rulemaking that sets out six classes of works to be exemptions for three years from the DMCA’s prohibition against circumvention of technology that control access to copyright–protected work.

See: www.copyright.gov/1201/docs/2006_statement.html.

U.K. REJECTS COPYRIGHT TERM EXTENSION ON SOUND RECORDINGS – The U.K. Treasury has rejected a proposal to extend copyright on sound recordings from 50 to 95 years, after an independent review. The proposed extension was championed by artists such as Sir Cliff Richard, whose earliest recordings will come out of copyright in 2008.

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2. LEGAL CASES:

WEB SITE AUTHORIZED COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT – The Federal Court of Australia upheld an earlier ruling in Cooper v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd that the plaintiff, the operator of mp3s4free.net, and the Internet service provider that hosted the Web site, authorized copyright infringement by providing a search engine through which a user could illegally download MP3 files. The Web site did not host any copyright-protected music, however providing links to the material, in the eyes of the court, authorized copyright infringement.

GOOGLE REACHES AGREEMENT WITH BELGIAN JOURNALISTS – Google has arrived at a settlement with Belgian press photographers and journalists over Google News’ reproduction of extracts from Belgian press reports. The agreement was made between Google and 2 groups representing journalists and photographers.

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3. OF INTEREST:

CANADIAN ISPs AGREE TO BLOCK CHILD PORNOGRAPHY WEB SITES – Canada’s largest Internet service providers are partnering with Cybertip.ca to launch “Project Cleanfeed Canada.” The project aims to block hundreds of child pornography Web sites.

JANUARY 1 WAS PUBLIC DOMAIN DAY – On January 1 each year, hundreds of thousands of copyright-protected works enter the public domain. As of January 1, 2007, works by artists such as Art Tatum, Walter de la Mare, and A. A. Milne, are in the public domain.

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4. PUBLICATIONS AND SEMINARS:

2007 ONLINE COURSES – From February 19 to March 23, 2007, Copyrightlaws.com is offering condensed five week versions of the following 16-lesson courses:

· Canadian Copyright Law – A primer on Canadian copyright law

· U.S. Copyright Online – A primer on U.S. copyright law

· Managing Copyright Issues – An advanced course on managing all types of copyright-protected works. This course includes a discussions list.

· Also, the 6 lesson, 3 week course, Primer on International Copyright Law, will begin on February 19, 2007

Copyrightlaws.com is also offering 8 week versions of the following 16-lesson courses, from April 9 to June 1, 2007:

· U.S Copyright Online

· Managing Copyright Issues

· Digital Content Management – An advanced course on the legal, strategic and practical implications of using, publishing and re-distributing licensed digital content. This course includes a discussion list.

· Also, the 27 lesson, 9 week course on Digital Licensing Online will begin on April 9, 2007. This course examines all aspects of digital licensing, and includes a discussion list.

To request a syllabus for any of these courses, e-mail: [log in to unmask]. To register, go to: http://www.acteva.com/go/copyright. If you are a member of SLA, NFAIS, Palinet, Solinet, OCLC/Capcon, or RGD, please register for these courses through your association.

2007 VOLUME OF THE COPYRIGHT & NEW MEDIA LAW NEWSLETTER-For in-depth information on copyright issues in Canada, the U.S. and around the world, in plain English, and full of practical advice, consider subscribing to the 12 page, quarterly print newsletter, The Copyright & New Media Law Newsletter, now in its 11th year of publication. For a free sample copy or for subscription information, email: [log in to unmask].

CCC ARTICLE ON GLOBAL COPYRIGHT COMPLIANCE—A brief article containing practical tips entitled, Experts Share Tips to Tackle Global Copyright, is at: http://www.cccnewsletter.com/CCCExtraCorporate_Winter2006/a.htm.

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This newsletter is prepared by Lesley Ellen Harris, a Copyright Lawyer and Consultant. Lesley is the author of the books Canadian Copyright Law (McGrawHill), Digital Property: Currency of the 21st Century, and Licensing Digital Content (ALA Editions). Lesley may be reached at: http://copyrightlaws.com.

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This LEH-Letter issue was prepared with the help of Beth Davies.