Proposed WIPO Copyright Treaty Could Affect Home Entertainment

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is soon expected to begin reviewing a proposed treaty to prevent the unauthorized retransmission of broadcast signals, called the "Protection of the Rights of Broadcasting Organizations". Treaty drafting began in 2003 and it still has not been completed. Supporters of the proposed treaty, including broadcasters and webcasters such as Yahoo and other members of the Digital Media Association, claim that the Treaty would bring needed protection from the theft of broadcast signals. Opponents see the treaty as giving broadcasters and webcasters exclusive rights to authorize rebroadcasting of their signals for 50 years. As many as 35 companies and organizations have joined forces to form a coalition opposing the treaty. Companies such as Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, AT&T, Sony, Verizon, and TiVo have teamed up with the American Library Association, the Broadband Service Providers Association, the Home Recording Rights Coalition, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation to sign a statement of opposition to the treaty. These opponents claim that the treaty will block the average Internet user's ability to access content, and it could reduce existing protections in US copyright law such as fair use provisions and accessing works in the public domain. They also claim that the treaty will give broadcasters and webcasters unprecedented control of home and personal networking environments, and delay the launch of new home entertainment technologies. They claim that implementation of the treaty could interfere with consumers' rights to record TV broadcasts in their homes and replay them at a later date. For more information on the topic, see: http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6112532.html For the most recent draft version of the Treaty, visit: http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/sccr/en/sccr_15/sccr_15_2.pdf For a statement of opposition to the Treaty, see: http://www.publicknowledge.org/pdf/wipo-statement-20060905.pdf Summary by: Andrei Edwards