Going to Washington D.C. this next week..

from WinCustomize Forums
This next week I'm going to the US capital to be part of a panel that is trying to find ways of protecting intellectual property holders as well as prevent IP holders from abusing the rights of others.

The goal is to come up with a consensus that will be put into a bill into the next session of congress.

My primary reason for going has to do with trademark abuse (i.e. the current laws allow large companies to monopolize(tm) commonly used terms through abusing the legal system).

But if there are any other issues you'd like me to bring up while I'm there, feel free to post here and share your thoughts.

I am not an IP attorney, I just have more experience than I'd care to have with intellectual property law.

2,715 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wow! I think it's great what you are doing, Brad! I'm really sick of the intellectual property abuse that is rampant on the internet...I imagine it's a hard thing to control though because international laws can vary but as far as moral support I'm sure everyone is 100% behind you and THEN some! I had a site to showcase my modeling photos which unfortunately ended up everywhere on the net much to my chagrin even *with* my copyright notices on them. *sigh*

Art stripping is just as bad and systemically rampant throughout the internet...which I find disappointing and demoralizing to say the very least...

I certainly do wish there was a way for artists, photographers, models etc. to protect their stuff and still be able to be on the WWW...

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you are able to make some headway!

-Smiles,

AngEla
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Wish I could go with you, Brad...
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have a safe trip....

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think IP raiding is going to be mainly in the international forum in the years to come. As the populations of obtuse and openly antagonistic nations become more and more internet-accessible, there will be serious problems. I fear that there will be havens for people who want to steal IP soon, in places like Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle-Eastern nations, etc. Illegal activities have always been a way of generating revenue for corrupt governments, and the Internet makes it twice as convenient. You can do it all remotely and if their records are inaccessible to the legal authorities, you're safe.

As far as the rest, big business' unbeatable edge is the court system. At least there is an faint attempt in criminal justice to see that both sides are reasonably represented; businesses litigate their smaller competition to death all the time. Maybe the copyright/trademark/patent offices should be forced to arbitrate their own messes, instead of allowing the court system to be burdened with all the frivolous, mercenary civil cases we see.

this is all obvious, unhelpful crap. ignore me.

Oh, and pharmaceutical companies are evil and always wrong. No patents for drug companies... or their close relatives... or their pets. Make sure they pass a law about that while you are watching. Don't let them talk you out of it.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
tekk them to get a better computer system. and then xhange the gui for it.