@WavesBlog: 06/01/2010

Settlement In DRAM Case

From the Maryland Attorney General press release: “The settlement provides restitution for consumers and state and local government agencies who paid more for computers and other electronic devices because of the price-fixing scheme.”

Viacom v Google on the Interpretation of DMCA "safe harbor" provision

Here. As the U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton put it, "the critical question is whether the statutory phrases “actual knowledge that the material or an activity using the material on the system or network is infringing,” and “facts or circumstances from which infringing activity is apparent” in § 512(c)(1)(A)(i) and (ii) mean a general awareness that there
are infringements (here, claimed to be widespread and common), or rather mean actual or constructive knowledge of specific and identifiable infringements of individual items".
According to the judge, "if a service provider knows (from notice from the owner, or a “red flag”) of specific instances of infringement, the provider must promptly remove the infringing material. If not, the burden is on the owner to identify the infringement. General knowledge that infringement is “ubiquitous” does not impose a duty on the service provider to monitor or search its service for infringements."

Entflechtungen von Unternehmen als Instrument des allgemeinen Wettbewerbsrechts?

Zum Referentenentwurf eines Gesetzes zur Einführung einer Entflechtungsbefugnis vom 8. Januar 2010, Andreas Klees / Sebastian Max Hauser

Sobre la disuasión de conductas anti-competitivas

Massimo Motta, aqui.

Aplicación de las normas de competencia al sector agroalimentario

Informe de Comisión Nacional de la Competencia hecho publico.

Competition and agriculture: potential competition concerns with respect to the breeding and commercialisation of sunflower seeds and sunflower seed treatment products in Europe?

The European Commission opens an in-depth investigation under the EU Merger Regulation into the proposed acquisition of the global sunflower seed business of US company Monsanto by Syngenta of Switzerland.

WIPO SSCR/20: More on Limitations and Exceptions

WIPO's Second Analytical Document on Limitations and Exceptions. See US' Draft Consensus Instrument on needs of persons with print disabilities. See also EU's Draft Joint Recommendation concerning the improved access to works protected by copyright for persons with a print disability.
US' declaration at SSCR/20: need to keep an holistic approach on L&E; need to move forward swiftly. US' draft consensus instrument as initial step.
In the meanwhile, the US distributed a Background Paper and FAQs (submitted as an information document) on the proposed consensus instrument.
See a comparison of the four proposals presently being discussed (limited to aspects concerning persons with disabilities, the "African Proposal" covers further matters). The wording of the Conclusions was so controversial, that no agreement could be reached. As the WIPO bravely puts it, "(D)uring a late night discussion, agreed language for final conclusions proved elusive. Member states had divergent views on the wording for future work on the scope of an international instrument relating to exceptions and limitations, and on whether and when informal consultations should take place on the protection of broadcasting organizations. Discussion on all these issues will continue at the next session of the SCCR from November 8 to 12, 2010."

Berliner Rede zum Urheberrecht

Rede der Bundesministerin der Justiz Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger. Mehr zum geplanten Leistungsschutzrecht für Verlage

FTC: Is There Life After Trinko and Credit Suisse? The Role of Antitrust in Regulated Industries

Here.

How the Federal Trade Commission Works to Promote Competition and Benefit Consumers in a Dynamic Economy

Prepared Statement of the Federal Trade Commission before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights

WIPO SCCR/20: Draft Treaty on Exceptions and Limitations Proposed by the African Group

Draft WIPO Treaty on Exceptions and Limitations for the Disabled, Educational and Research Institutions, Libraries and Archive Centers

UNESCO on Fighting Piracy with Non-Legislative Measures

PIRACY: CURRENT TRENDS AND NON-LEGISLATIVE MEASURES TO
COUNTERACT IT, Luis Villarroel (Corporacion Innovarte).

South Africa: Beyond Competition on the Pitch

"Unleashing Rivalry” 10 Years of enforcement by the South African competition authorities (1999-2009)

Toward An International Dialogue on the Institutional Side of Antitrust

Here, P.J.Weiser

Kartellrechtliche Schadensersatzansprüche: Strategische Überlegungen

Strategische Überlegungen bei der gerichtlichen Durchsetzung von kartellrechtlichen Schadensersatzansprüchen, T. Schreiber.

The “More Economic Approach” after 10 Years: Remarks by an Economist

Here, Justus Haucap.

Recent Developments in EU Merger Control

Here, Nadia Calviño ( Deputy Director General DG Competition, European Commission)

WIPO's scoping study on the public domain

Here.

On the anticompetitive use of the DMCA

ANTI-CIRCUMVENTION OF COMPETITION: AVOIDING CONFLICT BETWEEN THE DMCA AND ANTITRUST, J. Schroeder; see also Antitrust Law - A Stranger in the Wikinomics World? Regulating Anti-Competitive Use of the DRM/DMCA Regime, Rachel Aridor-Hershkovitz