[Random-bits] [WIPO Casting Treaty] Dipconf seems likely at this point -- now for the US it's the cablecasting treaty

[James Love]

http://www.cptech.org/blogs/wipocastingtreaty/2006/09/dipconf-seems- 
likely-at-this-point-now.html

Date: September 12, 2006 12:15:55 PM EDT
Dipconf seems likely at this point --  now for the US it's the  
cablecasting treaty
James Packard Love

The US and the EU are showing some flexibility. The Africa group has  
called for a diplomatic conference. Many delegates seem inclined to  
move ahead to get this issue behind them. Too early to tell what type  
of rights will be included. The TPM measures are likely to only be  
those relating to the protection of the signal, and not to the  
content. Webcasting, netcasting and simulcasting is supposed to be  
out, but that is not really certain, and no one really knows what  
Article 9 does.

For the US, Canada and many other countries -- the short term outcome  
will effectively be a new treaty for cablecasting -- something not  
covered by the Rome Convention. No one has really thought about what  
this will mean, because the cable companies have not been showing up,  
and everyone was focusing on broadcasting and webcasting. But most  
people in the US and many other countries get TV primarily through  
cable, rather than over-the-air broadcasting.

Who are the beneficiaries of a "cablecasting" right? According to  
many delegates here, it will be the cable "channels," not the local  
cable company. Thus, it turns out that News Corp and Time Warner --  
two companies attending this meeting, will be defined as  
"cablecasters" for their various cable channel offerings. So too for  
many other big aggregators of content for cable platforms around the  
world.

How will this play out when the cable company provides Internet  
access? I think this is not well thought out either.

--
Posted by James Packard Love to WIPO Casting Treaty at 9/12/2006  
09:01:00 AM

---------------------------------
James Love, CPTech / www.cptech.org / mailto:james.love@cptech.org /  
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