WIPO pacts go digital; proposed international treaties will open up domestic debate on treatment of electronic works

Article Abstract:

The World Intellectual Property Organization at the close of 1996 adopted two proposals for international treaties to update the Berne and Rome copyright conventions and bring copyright protection into the digital age. Inconsistently treating digital property rights is particularly harmful because of its potential for global impact. One of the important issues raised by the Copyright Treaty is fair use in a computer environment, while the adoption of the Database Treaty would put the US on a par with the European Union by allowing data base developers a property right in factual data. Adoption of the Performance and Phonogram Treaty would require the US to alter its moral rights policy.

Management, International aspects, Patents (International law), Data processing, World Intellectual Property Organization, Copyright and electronic data processing, international

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Publishers, authors battle over electronic rights; debate over allocation of rights; debate over allocation of rights and money sparks lawsuits and birth of the Authors' Registry

Article Abstract:

The publishing industry is working to establish methods to allocate the rights and money flowing from electronic publishing. This includes the licensing of copyrighted works displayed on the World Wide Web and various digital technologies. The Authors' Registry was established in 1996 by the Authors' Guild, the American Society of Journalists and others, partly as a licensing clearinghouse similar to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Copyright issues such as fair use also enter into electronic publishing.

Publishing industry, Authors, Writers, Internet

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Freelancers reeling in fight over online rights; unless Congress takes action, authors may be denied pay for electronic publishing rights

Article Abstract:

The US District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in Tasini v. New York Times Co. that consent or payment to freelance authors before electronic publication in data bases and CD-ROMS of their print publications was not required by Section 201(c) of the Copyright Act of 1976. The ruling does not distinguish distribution of collected works on the Internet where the original's organization is preserved. The case applies only to CD-ROM and Nexis technology.

Telegraph & other communications, Electronic Publishing, All Other Publishers, Freelance writers

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