Friday, November 08, 2013

The Landscape of Proposed Patent Law Amendments – A Comparative Look

J. Contreras, here

The quest for behavioural Antitrust. Beyond the label battle, towards a cognitive approach

L. Arnaudo, Agcm Collana "Temi e problemi", qui

Credit Cards in Canada: What Role for Competition Law?

Kluwer Competition Law Blog, here

U.S. spying harms cloud computing, Internet freedom: Wikipedia founder

Reuters.com, here.

"It's not always fun to live in an authors' rights country"

B. Hugenholtz, Flexing Authors’ Rights, Peter Jaszi Distinguished Lecture on Intellectual Property, Video here (from 1:14:16).
"It's not always fun to live in an authors' rights country" at 1:23:38.

Highly recommended, in the following some notes I took:

Who could be against "fair" use in Europe and elsewhere?

A number of historic reasons:
- civil law tradition: the law should be made by the people, the judge should be no more than "la bouche de la loi" (mouthpiece of the law)
- authors' rights: different rationale, constitutions at national level hardly ever mention intellectual property: there to protect authors as a matter of natural justice; exceptions narrowly interpreted. As part of that, the moral rights' tradition.

Broader concerns:
- affecting legal certainty
- opening the floodgates to piracy
- fear of US legal imperialism ("fair US to us")

Legal arguments:
- fair use in conflict with the Berne Convention, with TRIPS

But:

- civil law is already dominated by general principles, and unwritten law also a source of law
- generally, moral rights do not impede the introduction of more flexible norms
- public interest and balancing of rights already part of the discussion
- fair use is not wild, it is fairly predictable, despite being open
2010 "Vorschaubilder" case involving thumbnails: German Court looking for ways to justify them, and cooked up a theory of "implied consent." Reasonable solution, but we need more legal certainty.
- three-step test as a safety net

Legal transplants rarely work, but in Europe we need more flexibility, and the European and international legal frameworks do tolerate it (problems exist, but are not insurmountable).

Evidence pointing in the direction of flexibility:

- Recital 2, InfoSoc Directive: "The European Council, meeting at Corfu on 24 and 25 June 1994, stressed the need to create a general and flexible legal framework at Community level in order to foster the development of the information society in Europe."

Limitations and exceptions (LE) rather loosely circumscribed, rather like prototypes (eg., art. 5(3)(d) InfoSoc Directive: "quotations for purposes such as criticism or review"; (i) incidental inclusion of a work or other subject-matter in other material; (k) use for the purpose of caricature, parody or pastiche; not even the French know what pastiche means...perhaps user generated content?), with ample room for maneuver (Sweden, very broad quotation exception: quote to the extent necessary for the purpose, in accordance with proper uses).

Three-step test not that much of a problem:
- "certain special cases": flexible norms can be reasonably predictable, eg fair use is not all encompassing
- "prejudice the legitimate interests of the rightholder": flexible norms do not necessary prejudice authors' and rightholders' rights
- nobody has ever complained to the WTO about the US fair use rule.
- the Berne three-step conceived against the background of all LE existing at that time, fair use included (US not part of Berne at that time, but future adherence was already part of the picture).

Discussions on flexibilities in the EU

Luckily, the idea of introducing more flexibility is gaining momentum at the EU political level, inspired by the UK and Irish examples among others. Also the Netherlands is forcefully making that point in Europe.

Irish Copyright Review Report suggesting the introduction of some sort of fair use, complementing exiting LE.

Kind of flexibilities that work: two approaches
- Extend existing LE to create more room for maneuver
- the South Korean/Irish approach: flexibility alongside circumscribed LE (civil law) - rule of complementary flexibility; similarly, the Wittem project - European Copyright Code advocating it, at article 5.5:
"Further limitations
Any other use that is comparable to the uses enumerated in art. 5.1 to 5.4(1) is permitted provided that the corresponding requirements of the relevant limitation are met and the use does not conflict with the normal exploitation of the work and does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the author or rightholder, taking account of the legitimate interests of third parties."

Who cares about flexibilities in copyright? Everybody is infringing copyright anyway on a daily basis (only speaking for the Netherlands)

Law abiding citizens, and students.
Institutional users (such as libraries) and innovators: chilling effects.
Authors themselves.
Everybody  believing in copyright, and Prof. Hugenholtz certainly does: increasing gap between social norms of the people "in Internet" and the law of copyright; social legitimacy of copyright currently under serious threat.

German court stays Google-Apple FRAND rate-setting case, invites EU Commission to participate

Fosspatents.com, here

Urheberrecht: Große Koalition will Haftung von Sharehostern verschärfen

Heise.de, hier.

Strategic Underinvestment as an Abuse of Dominance under EU Competition Rules

P. Merlino, G. Faella, here

Thursday, November 07, 2013

Microsoft Is Making An Astonishing $2 Billion Per Year From Android Patent Royalties

BusinessInsider.com, here..

Big Data for Europe

N. Kroes,here.
What is Big Data? Memo, here

The Guardian on Google' s Leaked Settlement Proposals

Here.
Commitments from Bits.blogs.nytimes.com, here.
Questionnaire from .consumerwatchdog.org, here

"Strategic Patent Acquisitions" in Review

The Antitrust Source, here.

Rockstar vs. Google: Software patents as a license for privateering

FSFE.org, here

User Generated Content under Canadian Copyright Law Symposium Videos

Osgoode Hall Law School, here

Inspiring Creativity - Promoting Culture and Creative Industries across Europe

European Territorial Cooperation, here

Antitrust damages in EU law and policy

J. Almunia, here

Five Arguments Laid to Rest after Actavis

M. Carrier, here

Des "services culturels numériques" sous le joug du CSA ? Refus de l'ASIC

Numerama.com, ici

Startups Pitching A “Netflix For E-Books” May Have A Tough Sell

TechCrunch.com, here

Department of Commerce Seeks Input on Digital First Sale

Thedigitalshift.com here.
Supplementary info published on the Federal Register, here (p. 2 ff.)

Behavioural Economics in Competition and Consumer Policy

Centre for Competition Policy, University of East Anglia, here. Presentations from the book's launch here.

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Old Habits Die Hard?:UsedSoft v Oracle

A. Nicholson, here

IBM claims Twitter is in violation of three patents they own

TechSpot.com, here

Commissioner Michel Barnier welcomes the trilogue agreement on collective rights management

European Commission, Memo here

Wettbewerbshüter fordern neue Bahngesetze

Welt.de, hier

Unclear, torturous path for EU ratification of Marrakesh Treaty

Tacd-ip.org, here.

"Maria Martín Prat suggested that new EU copyright legislation proposed sometime in 2014 could incorporate the Marrakesh Treaty and that this might be needed before ratification to harmonize EU member state laws on exceptions to copyright. This proposal that would mean a number years of delay in the ratification of the treaty was criticized by a number of MEPs present. Martin Prat gave as an example of why a new law would be needed the presence of “dyslexic persons” in the Treaty which is not covered by EU copyright exceptions legislation."

Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright and related rights in the information society
Art.5(3)
(b) uses, for the benefit of people with a disability, which are directly related to the disability and of a non-commercial nature, to the extent required by the specific disability;

Dyslexia not included?!?

Ouverture des données publiques. Les exceptions au principe de gratuité sont elles toutes légitimes ?

Rapport ("Trojette") au Ministre, ici

Permettre les usages publics des images

A. Gunthert, ici

Informational Hearing on Patent Assertion Entities

B. Love, Testimony, California Assembly Select Committee on High Technology, here

Monday, November 04, 2013

Seminar: Designing Global Competition Policy Between Co-operation and Convergence

Alessandra Tonazzi, Italian Competition Authority
Mor Bakhoum, Max Planck Institute, Munich

November 15, 2013 - 10.30 am

Trento University
Department of Economics and Management
Room 3C

Via Inama, 5—Trento

EU aims to complete Gazprom antitrust probe by spring

Reuters.com, here

The Value of Data: Consequences for Insight, Innovation & Efficiency in the U.S. Economy

J. Deighton, P. Johnson, here

My Latest Amicus Brief: Viacom v. YouTube (Again)

IPDuck, here

Caught in the Stat: LSE Receives Criticism for its Report on Copyright in the Music Industry

Iposgoode.ca, here

Supreme Court of Canada Allows Indirect Purchaser Claims

Kluwercompetitionlawblog.com, here

U.S. Court Invalidates Patent on Down Syndrome Test

News.sciencemag.org, here

Seizing the data opportunity - A strategy for UK data capability

Gov.uk, here.

P. 43: "Action: Following the technical review of the published draft legislation, the government will bring into force secondary legislation to enable text and data mining for non-commercial purposes in 2014."

One small step for EU Parliament could prove one giant leap for data protection

UK Information Commissioner's Office, here

Baidu shuts down digital marketplace due to copyright concerns

Managingip.com, here

Swiss telco’s cloud aims to draw customers who are fearful of spying

Arstechnica.com, here

Kenya: Attorney-General Githu Muigai declares war on copyright law violators

Nation.co.ke, here

Sprit­preis-Onlineportale: Stich­probe der Stiftung Warentest

Test.de, hier

Rechtliche Probleme beim Einsatz von Plagiatssoftware unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der universitären Ausbildung

F. Schulz, hier

Music start-up set to rock the world

Smh.com.au, here

Friday, November 01, 2013

Study on the remuneration of authors and performers for the use of their works and the fixations of their performances

Call for tender, European Commission, here.

"The objective of the study is to provide an assessment of different national approaches and mechanisms to ensure remuneration for authors and performers for the exploitation of their works and performances and to determine whether, and to what extent, the differences that exist among the Member States affect levels of remuneration and the functioning of the internal market."

Police IP Crime Unit arrests third man suspected of running pirate site

Musicweek.com, here 

Google and Samsung sued for patent infringement by major tech consortium

TheVerge.com, here

Supreme Court of Canada Gives Green Light for Indirect Purchaser Price Fixing Class Actions

Casselbrock.com, here

Does EU Competition Policy sufficiently promote companies investment & innovation ?

N. Petit, Presentation here

First Degree Price Discrimination Using Big Data

B. Reed Shiller, here

Antigua Preparing to Move Forward with WTO Authorized Rejection of US Copyrights

Patentlyo.com, here

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Microsoft, Infineon suits to proceed in Canada, not ADM

Reuters.com, Here.

Le SPF Economie a pris acte du communiqué de la Sabam.

Economie.fgov.be, ici.

Access Copyright lawsuit against York is first test of fair-dealing guidelines

UniversityAffairs.ca, here.

Modernising (Irish) Copyright Katseries #2: linking & marshalling as exceptions

IPKat, here.

UK takes lead on ending company secrecy at Open Government Partnership Summit

Blog.okfn.org, here

How Spotify and its digital music rivals can win over artists: 'Just include us'

TheGuardian.com, here

Data Protection, Privacy and Security: Re-Establishing Trust Between Europe and the United States

J. Brill, here

Authors Guild v HathiTrust: Oral Argument on Appeal

K. Crews, here

The TTIP: Can it bring benefits to the people?

Beuc.org, here. 

OpenDataFrance: gather local open data initiatives towards mutualisation of resources and standardisation of datasets

Epsiplatform.eu, here

Modernising (Irish) Copyright Katseries #1: The Innovation Exception

IPKat, here.

EU-Kartellstreit: Verleger kritisieren Googles Zugeständnisse

Heise.de, hier

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Open data: Unlocking innovation and performance with liquid information

McKinsey Global Institute, here

Protecting Consumers and Competition in a New Era of Transatlantic Trade

E. Ramirez, here

Towards a more dynamic transatlantic area of growth and investment

V. Reding, here

Improving the Patent System to Promote American Innovation and Competitiveness

US Committee on the Judiciary, here

NTV/FS/Ostacoli all'accesso nel mercato dei servizi di trasporto ferroviario passeggeri ad alta velocità

Provv. A443 qui, Impegni presentati qui (v. Allegati).


Open Data Institute creates 13 'Nodes' around the world

Wired.co.uk, here. Trento (my University town) is one of the "Nodes".

The Value of Openness for a Sustainable Internet

Internetsociety.org, here

Data transparency effort – successful in U.K. – to be tested in U.S.

Knightfoundation.org here

Modernising Copyright

Irish Copyright Review Committee, here. A terrific reading, to be discussed with my "innovation management" students asap.

Copyright Review Committee comprised Dr Eoin O’Dell of Trinity College (Chair), Professor Steve Hedley of University College Cork and Ms Patricia McGovern of DFMG Solicitors.
Incipit "Copyright reform is in the air"

"In the same way as Molière's Monsieur Jourdain spoke prose without realising it, copyright vests even if the author does not realise it", p. 33.

For Major Publishers, Will Print No Longer Be the Norm?

Publishersweekly.com, here.

Web inventor's open data organisation announces new global network

TheGuardian.com, here

France: a digital file in iTunes is a phonogram

Kluwer Copyright Blog, here

Monday, October 28, 2013

The business model of patent assertion entities in IT: unilateral restraints of competition or business as usual?

P. Gagnon, here

Study on Patents and the Public Domain (II)

Expert Study (J. Conley, P. Bican, N. Wilkof), WIPO, here. Previous WIPO Secretariat's Study here

Un Guide du MOOC pour France Université Numérique

Blog.educpros.fr, ici

Individuazione di criticità concorrenziali nel settore degli appalti pubblici

Vademecum per le stazioni appaltanti, AGCM, qui.

The Meaning of ‘Relevant Customer Benefits’ in the Context of Health Care: Monitor’s Advice and the Competition Commission’s Response

M. Guy, here

Open Data Index

Open Knowledge Foundation, here

The Big Geek Theory

Inaglobal.fr, ici

EU to push ahead on data protection despite UK opposition

Euractiv.eu, here

Waste management services

Background Paper, OECD, here

Ex officio cartel investigations and the use of screens to detect cartels

Background Paper, OECD, here. Expert Paper by  R. Abrantes-Metz, here

The value of policy diversification in cartel detection and deterrence

W. Kovacic, here

Worldwide Competition Database

Competition Law Center, George Washington University Law School, here

L’exemplaire numérique sans support : le vieux continent à la pointe de l’évolution

Blog-dmi.com, ici

Friday, October 25, 2013

Amazon "de la patrie": i timori della Francia

IlSole24Ore, qui.

European authors and artists support EP report on home copying levies

Futureofcopyright.com, here. 

Bibliotheksverband fordert Gesetzesinitiative zur Gleichstellung von E-Books

Institut für Urheber- und Medienrecht, hìer.

Graffiti Artists Use Moral Rights to Prevent Building Demolition

IPKat.com, here

Monopolization in Developing Countries

A. Heimler, K. Mehta

Articulating a Modern Approach to FCC Competition Policy

R. Hundt, G. Rosston, here.

Report of the European Commission Public Consultation on Open Research Data

Disruption to connectivity and network security and privacy issues will accompany move towards IPv6 internet addresses, study says

Out-law.com, here

Resale Price Maintenance: A Big Issue For UK Luxury Brands

Covington & Burling, here

Angela Merkel empört, dass sie von USA behandelt wird, als wäre sie ein deutscher Bürger

Der Postillon, hier.

Apple, Microsoft And Free Software

Telecrunch.com, here

The CopyKat - copyright and the internet: are we Poles apart?

The1709blog.blogspot.com, here

The vexed issue of 'orphan' copyright works

Tmtblog.minterellison.com, here.

Innovating in the digital era: putting Europe back on track

J. Barroso, Presentation here

Open data guidebook

Final report of the EUROCITIES working group on open data, here

EU leaders agree to create a connected continent

N. Kroes, here.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

EFF Thanks Patent Trolls for Best Troll-Killing Bill Yet

Eff.org, here

Samsung’s European Proposal – Fair, Foul or Foolhardy?

Blog.patentology.com.au, here

How smartphone apps are reshaping the taxi market

The Economist, here

Reclaim Your Name: Privacy in the Age of Big Data

J. Brill, here

Apple Just Ended the Era of Paid Operating Systems

Wired.com, here

Still on Pinckney, the CJEU, offline distribution and Latin mottos

The IPKat, here

LIBE Committee vote backs new EU data protection rules

European Commission, Memo, here

The Real Privacy Problem

E. Morozov, here

Musikindustrie geht erfolgreich gegen »YouTubeMP3«-Converter vor

Urheberrecht.org, hier

Turning the Page on Business Formats for Digital Platforms: Does Apple's Agency Model Soften Competition?

Ø. Foros, H. Kind, G. Shaffer, here

Competition between universities probed by UK regulator

Out-law.com, here

Die Europäische Datenschutzreform muss zügig abgeschlossen werden

P. Schaar, hier

One in Six Active U.S. Patents Pertain to the Smartphone

Project-disco.org, here

Economic Aspects of Intellectual Property in Countries with Economies in Transition

WIPO, Department for Transition and Developed Countries, here.

Réponse à la consultation du Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication sur l’Open Data

Open Knowledge Foundation, here

Searching for Competition

Online.wsj.com, here

Proposed EU Data Protection Regulation: Unofficial Text published (single file)

Legalmemory.blogspot.com, here

Monopoly and Dominant Firms: Antitrust Economics and Policy Approaches

L. White, here

Librarians, Distributors Weigh in on Macmillan Ebook Lending | PubCrawl

Lj.libraryjournal.com, here

Google has nothing to fear from new EU data law

Reuters.com, here

Profiting from Free: The Scourge of Online Piracy and How Industry Can Help

A. Keen, sponsored by the Initiative for a Competitive Online Marketplace (ICOMP), here (pdf file).

DOJ and FTC release model confidentiality waiver for international civil matters

Nortonrosefulbright.com, here. 

Open access: six myths to put to rest

P. Suber, here

Thursday, October 17, 2013

The Legal Status of Video Games: Comparative Analysis in National Approaches

WIPO Study, A. Ramos, L. Lopez, A. Rodriguez, T. Meng, and S. Abrams, here

The Economic Importance of Getting Data Protection Right: Protecting Privacy, Transmitting Data, Moving Commerce

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here

Why privacy matters

A. Acquisti, Ted Talk (video), here

Competition among financial markets operators

J. Almunia, here

Harvard Business Review answers its critics

FT.com, here

Students 'worst' at e-book piracy, says data monitor

Bbc.co.uk, here

Une exception mash-up est bien à l’étude au CSPLA

PCImpact.com, ici

EU Commission consults on commitments offered by Samsung Electronics regarding use of standard essential patents

Press Release, here

Intellectual Property Rights do not equal Innovation and Creativity

Communia-association.org, here

Judge appoints monitor to keep an eye on Apple's e-books biz

CNet.com, here.

Why Pulling Music From Spotify Only Holds Back The Artist Doing The Pulling

TechDirt.com, here

Lob des Zwischenraums

Handelsblatt.com, here

Amazon buys e-learning company to boost Kindle business

Seattletimes.com, here

Supporting Copyright Reform

Creativecommons.org, here.

A Day to Remember the First Computer Programmer Was a Woman

Bits.blogs.nytimes.com, here.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Patent Challenges for Standard-Setting in the Global Economy: Lessons from Information and Communication Technology

National Academy of Sciences, here (pdf file). 

Android: Building A Brand Around An Open Source Trade Mark

IPKat, here

To Infinity And Beyond: Business Model Adaptation In The Video Game Industry

Project-disco.org, here

Elektronische Marktplätze und die Vertikal - GVO

K. Ost, Präsentation, hier

Ökonomische Analyse von Plattformmärkten im  Zusammenspiel mit vertikalen Beschränkungen: insbesondere  Meistbegünstigungsklauseln

C. Wey, Präsentation hier

Plattformmärkte und vertikale Beschränkungen – insbesondere: Meistbegünstigungsklauseln

D. Zimmer, Präsentation hier

OFT launches market study into the supply of public sector ICT services

Press Release, here. See also Report on the findings of the call for information into the supply of ICT to the public sector, here 

UK CC finalises measures to open up audit market

Summary of the Final Report here

Do Recruiters "Like" It? Privacy and Online Social Network Profile in Hiring: A Randomized Experiment

M. Manant, S. Pajak, N. Soulié, here

Mississippi The Latest State To Claim Copyright Over Official Compilation Of Its Laws (Annotations)

TechDirt.com, here

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Amazon requires publishers to use Kindle DRM

BoingBoing.net, here

Brazil investigates Google over antitrust charges

Reuters.com, here

US Department Of Justice v. Apple Inc.

Lathrop & Gage LLP, here

Nespresso European Patent Revoked

TuftyTheCat.blogspot.com, here

Debating the “Where” of Online Jurisdiction

D. Holmes, here

The distinction between privacy and data protection in the jurisprudence of the CJEU and the ECtHR

J. Kokott, c. Sobotta, here

A very bad week for tobacco industry opposition to standard packaging

Tobaccounpacked.wordpress.com, here

Investigations into NPE Litigation involving Business Method Patents

Patentfreedom.com, here

The New Unified Patent System In Europe – Key Issues

Carpmaels & Ransford, here

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Procompetitive regulation of personal data protection in the EU

S. Vezzoso (this blog's author), Presentation here

15 Technologies that Content Industries Sued after Diamond Rio

Project-disco.org, here

General Court Confirms Commission’s Dawn-Raid Powers

Van Bael & Bellis, here

European Parliament says ‘No’ to plain packaging for tobacco products

The IPKat, here

Where can claimants sue for online copyright infringement?

TaylorWessing, here

California driving Internet privacy policy

Politico.com, here

Intellectual Ventures and its 80,000 Patents

Patentlyo.com, here

A Useful Reminder About Sham Litigation as Exclusionary Conduct

MyDistributionLaw.com, here

UK Competititon Commission paves way for new cement producer

CC, here

L'Open data, la ministre de la Santé n'en veut pas

LeMonde.fr, ici

Making available and communication to the public in the internet environment – focus on linking techniques on the Internet

ALAI, Report and Opinion, here

Monday, October 07, 2013

London’s Startups Show the Way in Remaking Finance

Businesstime.com, here

Is Twitter's 'tweet' trademark at risk?

Usatoday.com, here.

New York subpoenas Airbnb for data on all local hosts

TheVerge.com, here.

White House pursues online privacy bill amid NSA efforts

Politico.com, here

Google wants to patent splitting the restaurant bill

Cnet.com, here

A Need to Know Basis: The European Commission’s Approach to Sharing Information Concerning Article 101 TFEU Infringements

Steptoe.com, here

Competition Policy: Encouraging Thriving Markets for Development

M. Kitzmuller, M. Licetti, here

FRAND in China

D. Sokol, W. Zheng, here

La loi «anti-Amazon», une loi Maginot qui protège les commerçants, pas les lecteurs

Slate.fr, here

How Spotify Engineered the New Music Economy

Mashable.com, here

Chocolate giants battle over colour purple

Nzherald.co.nz, here

Harvard Business School Publishing crosses the ‘evil’ academic line

J. Gans, here.

Saturday, October 05, 2013

Erst jetzt erfahren...Mein TedTalk über UsedSoft in der FAZ

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 01.07.2013, Nr. 149, S. 22
Für ein Stück vom Software-Kuchen
Usedsoft AG kämpft immer noch gegen Widerstände
magr. FRANKFURT, 30. Juni. Vor zwei Monaten erfuhr der Gebrauchtsoftwarehändler Usedsoft einen Ritterschlag, wie ihn nur das Internet bietet. Im Rahmen der legendären amerikanischen Technikgesprächsreihe "Ted" stellte die italienische Juristin Simonetta Vezzoso die Geschichte von Usedsoft und dessen Gründer Peter Schneider vor - "einen meiner persönlichen Helden", wie Vezzoso bei der Veranstaltung Ende April im norditalienischen Trient sagte. Die Italienerin lehrt an der dortigen Universität Wettbewerbsrecht und präsentierte den Usedsoft-Gründer als einen David, der erfolgreich gegen die Goliaths der globalen Software-Branche gekämpft habe. Der Höhepunkt dieser Auseinandersetzungen liegt inzwischen ein Jahr zurück. Am 3. Juli vergangenen Jahres entschied der Europäische Gerichtshof in einem wegweisenden Verfahren zwischen dem Software-Hersteller Oracle und Schneiders Usedsoft, dass es grundsätzlich erlaubt sei, mit gebrauchter Software zu handeln - und zwar unabhängig davon, ob diese Software auf einem Datenträger, etwa einer CD, gespeichert ist, oder sie der Erstkäufer über das Internet auf seinem Rechner installiert hat. In beiden Fällen erschöpfe sich das sogenannte Verbreitungsrecht des Software-Herstellers - und das macht Computerprogramme eben handelbar. Für Peter Schneider ist dieser Handel ein Jahr nach dem Urteil nach eigenen Angaben wieder ein einträgliches Geschäft. Wie viel er genau damit verdient, nicht mehr verwendete Lizenzen für Office-Pakete oder Betriebssysteme des Software-Hauses Microsoft von Unternehmen aufzukaufen und an andere weiterzuverkaufen, behält Schneider lieber für sich. "Seit Juli vergangenen Jahres hat sich unser Umsatz mehr als verdoppelt, und wir erwirtschaften solide Gewinne", sagt Schneider nur. Auch die Zahl der Käufer wachse wieder. "Vor dem Urteil haben wir drei neue Kunden in der Woche gewonnen, seitdem sind es drei am Tag. Und inzwischen sind wir nahe dran, in Europa 5000 Kunden zu haben." Es kehre Normalität in den Markt ein, "mit Betonung auf einkehren", wie Schneider es ausdrückt. "Wenn der Markt zehn Jahren lang verunsichert war durch lächerliche Gerüchte und Behauptungen, dann kann man sich auch vorstellen, dass das nicht in einem Jahr zu ändern ist." Seit November versucht auch Hans-Olaf Henkel, diese Änderung voranzutreiben. Der ehemalige Vorsitzende des Bundesverbandes der Deutschen Industrie ist zusammen mit dem früheren Siemens-Chef Heinrich von Pierer einer von zwei Verwaltungsräten der in der Schweiz sitzenden Usedsoft AG. Henkel und Pierer überwachen ähnlich einem deutschen Aufsichtsrat das Unternehmen. Nach Henkels Worten versuchen die etablierten Spieler auf dem Software-Markt weiter Usedsoft Barrieren in den Weg zu legen. "Mir sind ein paar Dinge zu Ohren gekommen, die zum Teil groteske Formen annehmen", sagt Henkel. "Es hat zum Beispiel Korrespondenzen zwischen Microsoft und Kunden von Usedsoft gegeben, in denen Microsoft die Briefe von der Abteilung für Software-Piraterie hat unterschreiben lassen. Das ist ein übler Trick, um Kunden vorzugaukeln, dass es sich bei den Lizenzen von Usedsoft um Piraterieprodukte handelt." Ein Microsoft-Sprecher teilt auf Anfrage mit, dass Usedsoft seinen Kunden regelmäßig verschweige, aus welchen Lizenzverträgen die gebraucht gekauften Lizenzen stammen und wer der ursprüngliche Lizenznehmer sei. "Ohne diese Information kann ein Usedsoft-Kunde keinen lückenlosen Lizenznachweis führen. Die Interessen von Microsoft vertritt in solchen Fällen die Anti-Piraterie-Abteilung." Es sei generell frustrierend zu sehen, mit welchen Mitteln Software-Hersteller versuchen, das Geschäft zu behindern, sagt dagegen Usedsoft-Verwaltunsrat Henkel. Doch sei auch zu spüren, dass der Widerstand kleiner werde. Sein Geschäftsführer Schneider glaubt indes nicht, dass Unternehmen wie Microsoft oder auch der Kreativprogrammentwickler Adobe mit Abomodellen für Software dem Handel die Geschäftsgrundlage nehmen könnten. Außerdem machen die neuen Cloud-Geschäftsmodelle "nicht die Milliarden Lizenzen obsolet, die ohnehin schon im Markt vorhanden sind", sagt Schneider. Und mit diesen Lizenzen will er weiter Geld verdienen. Auf seine Adelung als Goliath kann er nach eigenen Angaben übrigens verzichten. "Ich will hier nicht als Robin Hood für Arme berühmt werden und mich auch nicht am Goliath abarbeiten", sagt Schneider. "Ich will einfach nur vom großen Kuchen des Software-Marktes ein Stück abhaben."

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Israeli regulators launch review of Google acquisition of Waze

Washingtonpost.com, here

News from the WIPO GA floor: the Marrakesh Treaty – upcoming signatories

Wipomonitor.org, here

Zweitverwertungsrecht passiert auch den Bundesrat

A. Metzger, hier

French lawmakers on both sides unite to spear Amazon

France24.com, here

Competition policy in a larger EU

J. Almunia, here

Urheberrechtsverletzungen im Internet in ganzer EU klagbar

DerStandard.at, hier

Lowering Your Standards: DRM and the Future of the W3C

Eff.org, here

Sanctions loom large: Samsung execs were told all terms of secret Nokia-Apple patent license

Fosspatents.com, here.

DRM, écosystème fermé : une TVA forte contre Kindle et iPad

Actualitte.com, ici

By focusing on patent strategy a New Zealand start-up hits the jackpot with Samsung

Iam-magazine.com, here

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Scribd Enters Increasingly Crowded Ebook Subscription Market

Digitalbookworld.com, here

With HarperCollins Deal, Scribd Unveils Its Bid To Become The Netflix For Books

TechCrunch,.com, here

Hotel Online Booking: The OFT announces its intention to accept binding commitments

Kluwercompetitionlawblog.com, here

Google Said to Avoid U.S. Antitrust Challenge Over Waze

Bloomberg.com, here

Period of limitations in follow-on competition cases: the elephant in the room?

P. Akman, here

New UK competition law landscape begins to take shape with creation of new authority

Edwardswildman.com, here

CMA's mission and strategy

A. Crisholm, here

The Google antitrust case: what is at stake?

J. Almunia, here

Brazil’s patent reform: innovation towards national competitiveness

Chamber of Deputies, Center for Strategic Studies and Debates, here

Pourquoi Apollinaire a mis 95 ans pour entrer dans le domaine public

LePoint.fr, ici

Copyright Small Claims

US Register of Copyrights, here.

MPs have missed the mark in attacking copyright reform

I. Hargreaves, here

UK isolated in Data Protection Regulation discussions; is it a result of NSA shenanigans?

Amberhawk.typepad.com, here

Buchpreisbindung: Rabattgutscheine von Thalia.at sind legal

Heise.de, hier

Thursday, September 26, 2013

US Ambassador: WIPO Needs More Balance – Toward Rightsholders

IP-watch.org, here

The economics of the newspaper business

H. Varian, here

Google Recently Made A Silent Shift To A New Search Algorithm, “Hummingbird”

TeleCrunch.com, here

Remedies Matter: The Importance of Achieving Effective Antitrust Outcomes

B. Baer, here

Video of Steve Jobs's iPhone presentation kills Apple's photo gallery touch patent in Germany

FossPatents.com, here

The FTC's Role in Shaping Antitrust Doctrine: Recent Successes and Future Targets

J. Wright, here.

WIPO Member States have denied Pirate Parties International's application for admittance as a Permanent Observer

PP-international.net, here.

Smartphone patent foes, other tech firms jointly urge Europe to prevent rise of abusive litigation

Fosspatents.com, here.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

House Judiciary Chairman Goodlatte releases new discussion draft legislation to address patent litigation abuse

IPO.org, here

Don’t wait for Congress, says judge in Google Books case

PaidContent.org, here.
Transcript of the hearing here

Zweitverwertungsrecht: Mehr Open Access oder bloßer Placebo?

E. Steinhauer, hier

Does copyright law work? New and ongoing empirical research suggests: not always

Columbia Journalism Review, here

La gestion collective a commencé pour les oeuvres du registre ReLIRE

Actualitte.com, ici

Android and the Tesco Effect

G. Moody, here

Will Netflix help fight online piracy in the Netherlands?

Futureofcopyright.com, here

Erixon: TTIP will move to fast track if first results come early

Euractiv.com, here

Judge appears to back Google's defense of digital books project

Cnet.com, here

Friday, September 20, 2013

Google/Waze: Initial Undertakings Given by Google to the OFT

Here

Google Maps versus OpenStreetMap: charting new territory on the Web?

Inaglobal.fr, ici

Wie sich der Bundesrat aus der Schlinge einer Ablehnung des Zweitverwertungsrechts zieht

R. Kuhlen, hier

Exception "handicap" au droit d'auteur et développement de l'offre de publications accessibles à l'ère numérique

Ministère de la Culture, Inspection générale des affaires culturelles, ici, ici

Spotify veut se démarquer avec des contenus exclusifs

Numerama.com, ici. 

Open Data: Not Just Good. Better

Opencorporates, Presentation, here

Solving the Orphan Works Problem for the United States

D. Hansen, K. Hashimoto, G. Hinze, P. Samuelson, J. Urban, here

AG Sharpston on technological protection measures

The1709Blog.blogspot.com, here

Spar-Chef erhebt Spionagevorwürfe gegen die Wettbewerbsbehörde

Salzburg.com, hier

VG Wort will Leistungsschutzrecht-Gelder eintreiben

Heise.de, hier.

Monday, September 16, 2013

The 2013 Marrakesh Treaty: Providing Access to Copyrighted Works for the Blind and Print Disabled

Program on Information Justice and the Public Interest, American University Law School, Public Forum, Video here

Institutional Advantage in Competition and Innovation Policy

H. Hovenkamp, here

Antitrust And Innovation: Rebalancing The Scale

J. Brill, here

Commissioner Wright (FTC) takes antitrust-minimalist position on standard-essential patents

Foss.patents.com, here

Net Neutrality Delayed, Net Neutrality Denied

M. Copps, here

Parliamentary questions in The Netherlands about copyright and the distribution of e-books

Futureofcopyright.com, here

European Research Council funds arXiv – a taste of changes to come

Blogs.nature.com, here

No competition minister in Australia's new Cabinet

J. Clarke, here

Touch ID: Datenschützer warnt vor Fingerscanner in iPhone

Spiegel.de, hier

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Vertical Restraints for On-line Sales

OECD, Policy Roundtable, here

SSOs, FRAND, and Antitrust: Lessons from the Economics of Incomplete Contracts

J. Wright, here

The ‘miracle of Marrakesh’: negotiating the VIP Treaty for books for the blind

N. Suzor, here

EDRi’s “FAQs” on net neutrality: a rebuttal

R. Heath, here

Enforcement of the competition rules – next steps for reform

G. Barling, here

La grogne des taxis contre la concurrence des smartphones

Liberation.fr, ici

Telekom - Netz der Zukunft

Netzneutralitaet.cc, Video, ab 1:38, hier.

Commissioner Kroes misses historic opportunity to guarantee net neutrality

M. Schaake, here

Russia's Latest Idea: An Internet Whitelist For Copyright Materials

Techdirt.com, here

Facebook Privacy Change Is Subject of F.T.C. Inquiry

NYTimes.com, here

Benzinpreis-App im Bürokratiestau

Blog.zdf.de, hier

FRAND part of Posner ruling likely to be affirmed

Fosspatents.com, here

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Google rivals seek review of new concessions in E.U. antitrust case

Computerworld.com, here

Copyright and the Government: The ‘Missing’ Proviso in Section 105

R. Picker, here

Decision standards for price-based exclusionary strategies: The equally efficient competitor test in the light of Post-Danmark

F. Marty, Presentation, here

Kroes' Unacceptable Anti-Net Neutrality Law Rushed Despite Criticisms

LaQuadrature.net, here

Agreed Use and Fair Use: The Economic Effects of Fair Use and Other Copyright Exceptions

G. Barker, here.

Legal battle between Cisco and Multiven flares up with EU antitrust complaint

ITWorld.com, here

Fiscalité du numérique: le Gouvernement salue une "contribution utile" du CNNum

Numerama.com, ici. Avis ici

iPhones, fingerprints and privacy

P. Bernal, here. 

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Opposition to Coalition of E-Reader Manufacturers’ request to exempt e-readers from the accessibility requirement

Organizations representing the interests of people with disabilities, here

Privacy and Big Data - Making Ends Meet

J. Polonetsky, O. Tene, here

2013 OECD Guidelines Governing the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data

OECD, here

Leak: DG JUSTICE Analysis Of Kroes' Attack On Net Neutrality

Edri.org, here

CNMC: perfil político y técnico bajo para la nueva institución

Cincodias.com, aquì.

Kroes’s telecoms plan faces Commission hostility

EurActiv.com, here

Evaluating Graduated Response

R. Giblin, here

Bid-Rigging in Canada: Recent Developments

Kluwercompetitionlawblog.com, here

UK open-access route too costly, report says

Nature.com, here

Open Access

UK Parliament, Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, Volume I here, Volume II here

Some thoughts on the new anti-Google (Android) complaint

Chilling Competition, here

Status of the Proposed EU Data Protection Regulation: Where Do We Stand?

C. Burton, A. Pateraki, here

Broadcasters' court victories over FilmOn X threaten Aereo's expansion

TheVerge.com, here

Friday, September 06, 2013

L'école numérique prend forme aux Pays-Bas, la France est plus timide

Numerama.com, ici.

The Fertilizer Oligopoly: The Case for Global Antitrust Enforcement

C.Taylor, D. Moss, here

Judge in ebook price-fixing case issues permanent injunction against Apple

TheVerge.com, here

Nach PRISM: Europas Datenschutz braucht jetzt Vorfahrt

V. Reding, hier.

Gemeinsam für einen starken europaweiten Datenschutz

Europäische Kommission, Memo, hier

Breathing Space for Cloud-Based Business Models

M. Senftleben, here

Canadian Universities Navigate Learning Curve for New Copyright Rules

M. Geist, here

Energie 2013: Wettbewerb in Zeiten der Energiewende

Monopolkommission, Sondergutachten, hier