Archive for the ‘US Government’ Category

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White House Battles Trademark, Copyright Infringement

Obama administration aims to stop intellectual property violators with a multi-agency, international initiative.

According to the article written by Elizabeth Montalbano of Information Week, the government’s plan “calls for better communication between law enforcement agencies and those affected by copyright and trademark infringement. It also aims to enhance the collaboration between international organizations and law-enforcement officials and the United States to crack down on IP violations, as well as to dedicate agency resources to improving data collection to enforce infringement laws.”

Full Story: Information Week

Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Cease and Desist

Full Story: The Celebrity Cafe

Follow Copyrights & Campaigns for the best copyright-related coverage. I use it but receive no benefits from endorsing it.

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• Naked Cowboy versus Naked Cowgirl (gadling.com)
• Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Stop copying (msnbc.msn.com)
• Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Stop ripping me off (theglobeandmail.com)
• NYC Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Stop copying me (sfgate.com)
• Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: stop ripping me off (ctv.ca)
• Biden to File Sharers: “Piracy is Theft” (cbsnews.com)
• Well Known Cases of Copyright Infringement (brighthub.com)
• Obama Administration Unveils Plan to Knock Off Counterfeiters (techdailydose.nationaljournal.com)
• Rosetta Stone Announces Settlements with Ten Individuals for Copyright and Trademark Infringement (eon.businesswire.com)
• Is copying good for fashion? (purseblog.com)
• Sign the ACTA Communiqué and Tell Negotiators to Protect Your Rights (eff.org)
• Copyright Czar Backs IP Enforcement, ‘Fair Use’ (wired.com)
• Obama Administration Announces New Anti-Piracy Initiative (news.yahoo.com)
• White House touts anti-piracy strategy (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• NYC Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Stop copying me (sfgate.com)
• NYC Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Stop copying me (sfgate.com)
• Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Stop Copying Me (blippitt.com)
• Naked Cowboy to Naked Cowgirl: Don’t copy me (thestar.com)
• 3 Count: Naked Fight (plagiarismtoday.com)

A mixture of the PD and copyright symbols. Image via Wikipedia

The Tenth Circuit ruled that Congress did not violate the First Amendment by restoring copyright protection for certain works that had fallen into the public domain.

Acts like this make it doubly difficult for serious bloggers. You write something without the need to worry about copyright then later the copyright is re-issued. Suddenly you are in violation of a copyright.

Journalists who are trying to obey the law ans respect copyrights should not be forced to be on constant vigil. Once the source was identified as public domain, you should be safe.

Fortunately,  I do receive updates on copyright stories. This does not protect articles I’ve already published. I can’t remember all the sources I’ve used. My source for updates is: Copyrights & Campaigns.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 10th Cir: Golan v Holder – First Amendment Challenge to Berne Convention’s Taking Works Out of Public Domain Retroactively Fails (copyrightlitigation.blogspot.com)
• Copyright Law and Public Domain Explained (brighthub.com)
• Novell’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari – as text (groklaw.net)
• Google Wins Viacom Copyright Case (businesspundit.com)
• Viacom loses out to Google in $1bn copyright lawsuit (newstatesman.com)
• Court Refuses to Keep Petition Signers Private (online.wsj.com)
• Terrible News: Court Says It’s Okay To Remove Content From The Public Domain And Put It Back Under Copyright (techdirt.com)
• 3 Count: Naked Fight (plagiarismtoday.com)
• Court Takes Away Some of the Public Domain (yro.slashdot.org)
• 10th Cir.: Restoring copyright protection to public domain works does not violate First Amendment (copyrightsandcampaigns.blogspot.com)

The following is making the rounds on Facebook:

“President Obama has decided that there will no longer be a “National Day of Prayer” held in May. He doesn’t want to offend anybody. Where was his concern about offending Christians last January when he allowed the Muslims to hold a day of prayer on the capitol grounds. As a Christian American “I am offended.” If you agree copy and paste no matter what religion you are, this country was built on Freedom!”

This is unfair to anyone who prays not just Christians.

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• National Day Of Prayer 2010: Federal Judge Rules Unconstitutional (huffingtonpost.com)
• National Day Of Prayer Ruled Unconstitutional (alan.com)
• Calif. city may face legal action over prayer vote (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• KKK prayer breakfast? (mikedelongsantafe.blogspot.com)
• Bahati To Attend The National Prayer Breakfast (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Shirley Dobson Dismissed from National Prayer Lawsuit (dakotavoice.com)
• Federal judge rules Day of Prayer unconstitutional (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• National Day of Prayer UNTRUTHS and How Google Can Be Your Friend (thesinglerider.com)
• Federal judge rules National Day of Prayer unconstitutional (hotair.com)
• Has President Obama canceled National Prayer Day? No. (inquisitr.com)

EPA Press Release:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the eRulemaking program have partnered to sponsor the Rulemaking Matters! video contest. The contest will highlight the significance of federal regulations and help the public understand the rulemaking process.

Federal agencies develop and issue hundreds of rules and regulations every year to implement statutes written by Congress. Almost every aspect of an individual’s life is touched by federal regulations, but many do not understand how rules are made or how they can get involved in the process. This video contest is an opportunity for everyone to learn more and participate in an open government.

With a short 60 to 90 second video, citizens should capture public imagination and use creativity, artistic expression and innovation to explain why regulations are important to everyone, and motivate others to participate in the rulemaking process. Individuals and groups of all ages may participate. Entries must be received by May17, 2010. The winner will be awarded $2,500, and their video posted on the Regulations.gov and EPA Web sites.

More information on the contest: http://www.epa.gov/lawsregs/videocontest