561: The Copyright War

All the Irish fuss over a silly little book and the first ever copyright case.

Berne Convention on International Copyright

In the law of intellectual property and copyright in particular, the world would be the Wild West were it not for the Berne Convention.

Canada's Private Recording of Music Copyright Blackout - Let The Internet Music Play

Canada's novel approach to copyright of private recording of audio and music, legal in exchange for a levy on blank media. Circa 2010, still with no copycats, it remains a Canada-only solution.

Canada's Super Trade-mark; Section 9 Trade-marks

The superhero of intellectual property, a government's use of trademark law for its own purposes. Canada's super trademark is hated or loved but always called the "Section 9 trade-mark".

Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreements

Confidential or non-dosclsure agreements are not magic bullets against the horrific consequences of accidental or intentional access to your company's sensitive data but it's an absolutely necessary first step.

Copyright

Copyright law for beginners.

Copyright Law: The History

The history of copyright law.

Copyright: Duration and Term of Copyright Protection

The term and duration of copyright protection, with a round-up of the laws of several common law jurisdictions.

Domain Name Law

The law of Internet domain names; URLs, and the uneasy marriage with trade-mark law.

Patents

Patents are little legal robots with 20-year life spans that give inventors monopolies for their original machines. They are handy and very valuable little devices and have made - and continue to make - many an "old money" fortune.

Trade Secrets - Intellectual Property's Secret Weapon

The law behind trade secrets, in plain language.

Trade-marks (aka Trademarks)

Trade-marks are used by persons selling goods or services to distinguish these from those of others.

Universal Copyright Convention

This international treaty, along with its alternate, the Berne Convention, forms a one-two punch to assert copyright worldwide.

WIPO Copyright Treaty (1996)

Yet another international copyright treaty but this time, aimed at computerized documents.