[Ecommerce] Marcus Barber on the proposed Broadcast/cablecast/webcast WIPO Treaty

[Thiru Balasubramanian]

Marcus Barber from Australia had these comments on the proposed WIPO treaty for the protection of broadcasters, cablecasters and webcasters?

Thiru

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The implications of this treaty are that inventors of material (the
authors, filmakers, researchers, lecturers, designers, artists etc)
will lose ownership of their own material simply because the owners of
the
vehicle of distribution (the 'casters) determine that they will not
permit the author rights of future use.

This is blatant theft of intellectual property by the 'casters in
their various guises.

What is proposed is akin to saying that passengers in a taxi now
belong to the taxi company, simply for choosing to ride in that taxi.


The moves by broadcasters, webcasters and cablecasters amounts to
blatant theft of intellectual property and the introduction of such
'laws' will lead to two distinct outcomes -
1.  The amount of material available for broadcast and distribution
in electronic means will plummet
2.  People will ignore the 'laws' and seek ways to distribute the
material.

Marcus Barber
Strategic Foresight Analyst
Swinburne University
Australia