 |
Contents of today's ICOMP newsletter:
» Introducing SearchNeutrality.org
» Welcome to a New Member: Press Cutting Service
» ICOMP to speak at EUobserver Event: Online Content and Creative Rights
» Revised Google book search deal a massive disappointment
Introducing SearchNeutrality.org
A new blog, searchneutrality.org, has been launched by the creators of Foundem, an ICOMP member. As the title suggests, the blog focuses on the issue of search neutrality: the principle that search engines should be open and transparent about their editorial policies, or, better still, should have no editorial policies other than that their results be comprehensive, impartial, and based solely on relevance.
To view the blog click here.
» back to top
Welcome to a New Member: Press Cutting Service
ICOMP is pleased to announce the joining of a new member:
 Press Cutting Service: a Spain based media monitoring service providing over 500 companies with TV, radio, press and online monitoring using innovative tools such as mobile alerts.
» back to top
ICOMP to speak at EUobserver Event: Online Content and Creative Rights
1st December 2009, 14:00h - 17:30h
Brussels, Musical Instruments Museum
As the reach of the Internet continues to grow and EU regulators scramble to understand its implications for copyright and other intellectual property rights, ICOMP is pleased to participate in the EUobserver's fourth annual conference on creative rights. Over the next five years a major policy challenge for the European Commission and European Parliament will be how to manage creative content online and the following key questions are crucial:
- How can we keep the Internet open and at the same time ensure quality content can be produced and paid for?
- What changes are needed to intellectual property rights for the smooth exchange of non-material goods in a European single market for Creative Content Online?
- How should cultural diversity in Europe be secured with territory-based management of authors' rights under transformation?
These topics will be debated by attendees including European artists, industry representatives, consumers and law makers. The event has many expert speakers confirmed, including ICOMP legal counsel, David Wood, who will address the first question of how to keep the Internet open and at the same time make sure quality content can be produced.
Click here for further details on the event and to book tickets.
» back to top
Revised Google book search deal a massive disappointment
ICOMP: Revised Google Book Search Deal A Massive Disappointment was written by David Wood, ICOMP Legal Counsel, and was published as a blog on the ICOMP website on November 16th 2009. The blog came as a response to the publication of the revised Google Book Search settlement proposal. ICOMP, and many others, had opposed the original proposal.
Last Friday, 13 November, the parties to the US Google Book Search litigation filed a revised settlement proposal. The original proposal had drawn vociferous objections from the French, German, and US governments, as well as from authors, publishers, libraries, academics, and consumer groups across Europe and the world.
Although ICOMP is still studying all 173 pages of the revised proposal, it clearly does not fix the serious problems that plagued the original settlement and that led to widespread European condemnation. Although some European works will technically now fall outside the scope of the settlement, Google appears intent to continue copying and engaging in 'snippet' display of copyrighted European works through its existing arrangements with American libraries. In short, the behaviour that sparked years of anger and frustration amongst European publishers and authors goes on. To say the least, the revised settlement is a massive disappointment.
No one seriously doubts the value of expanding online access to books and making books more easily searchable online. But Google's newest settlement proposal, like the earlier version, is a disaster. It would give Google a monopoly over millions of the world's books. It would also further entrench Google's dominance in search, including in Europe, and stifle innovation and harm consumers in a vitally important sector of the Internet ecosystem. It should be - and for the good of the Internet must be - rejected.
Click here to read more...
» back to top
|
|
