Software Cultures
Hardware Laws
2 October 2008
New Connaught Rooms, London
Digital Territories
15:00-16:30
The delocalisation of transactions and use of software has meant that the territorial nature of intellectual property rights can be compromised. The increased access, in particular automated delivery (downloading) means that the traditional model of licensing has need to adapt to ensure that the licences granted are compatible with the law of the user, particularly where they are consumers. The industry has yet to fully adapt to this as many licences still assume all users are based in the US or suggest that consumers are subjecting themselves to the jurisidiction of US courts. The licensing model is now developing on two fronts - the development of free and open source licences (including the recent Jacobsen v Katzer decision) is occurring at the same time as proprietary developers are starting to take full advantage of licence models.
The enforcement of intellectual property is increasingly being addressed at national, regional and international levels. In the UK, for example, trading standards are now under a duty to prevent copyright infringement. The Civil Enforcement Directive 2004/48/EC is slowly being implemented across the EU and the Criminal Enforcement Directive is gradually making its way through the legislative process. In addition, steps are being taken at the international level to make enforcement of intellectual property rights easier for rights-holders, including the International Postal Union.
This expert panel will address these issues and examine the legal, commercial and social dimensions of enforcement of intellectual property rights in the digital world.
Experts
Professor Ross Anderson (Cambridge)
Nicholas Fox (iPulse)
Gwilym Roberts (Kilburn & Strode)
Dr Guido Westkamp (QMIPRI)
Moderator
Vera Franz (Open Society Institute)
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