WIPO copyright book targets kids
p2pnet news view | Kids & Kartels:- Remember the Captain Copyright scandal?
Access Copyright tried to foist an unfunny cartoon featuring the farcical Captain Copyright on Canadian children.
But the planned series was flammed out of existence before it properly got started, deleted by a huge flood of online outrage.
“While my first reaction to the site was that it is just silly, as I dug deeper, I now find it shameful,” said University of Ottawa Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law Dr Michael Geist at the time.
“These materials, targeting kids as young as six years old, misrepresent many issues and proposes classroom activities that are offensive.”
Now a similar scheme seems to be in hand, but this time it seems copyright holders are using the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as their foil, and kids around the world are the targets.
Aimed at nine to 14-year olds, it’s bulky 72-page book filled, as Ars Technica points out, with “colorful examples” of copyright law in action.
“The most surprising thing about the booklet” is that it, “devotes eight pages to coverage of the public domain and other limitations on copyright,” says the post, going on:
The booklet is called “Learn from the Past, Create the Future” and is designed to be used in school classrooms. It’s only available in English at the moment, but Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, and Spanish versions are all coming. The book is peppered with amusing (*cough*) games for kids to play, including “Clear the Rights,” “Public Domain Detective,” and “Spot the Infringement.”
But why not?
With the active help and cooperation of local governments and school administrations, the corporate movie and music cartels are at it all the time, deluging schools around the world with spurious ‘educational’ materials designed to warp the minds of children.
“Unlike Captain Copyright and similar past efforts to educate kids, the WIPO document actually covers both sides of the equation,” says Ars Technica. “Public domain works get several pages of explanation, though the booklet rightly notes that finding something available for free on the Internet doesn’t mean it’s in the public domain,” says the post.
‘Several pages” out of 72? The book seems to me to be heavily weighted in favour of the copyright cartels and IMHO, any attempt at balance is little more than window dressing
For example, DRM (Digital Restrictions Management) is an impossible concept which is being abandoned by the corporate entertainment cartels, with EMI, and Vivendi Universal leading the way.
Anything which can be seen or heard can be copied by one means or another.
But the WIPO book presents DRM as a fait accompli – a done deed.
It states, flatly:
In order to protect their works from infringement, right holders are using the same tool that made their works so vulnerable in the first place – digital technologies. Their use of these technologies, which make copyright infringement more difficult and facilitate the management of rights, is known as Digital Rights Management (DRM).
DRM tools can be used to mark digital works with copyright information. They can also be used to control the way in which a work can be used. For example, DRM can limit the number of copies that can be made of a work, can prevent changes from being made to a work, and can limit the devices on which a work can be enjoyed.
In other words, DRM makes a mockery of fair use.
And, “According to international laws, it is illegal to remove, change (alter), or get around (circumvent) DRM protection of a work.”
That’ll be news to a lot of people.
The book also includes a section slugged COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT with the topic headings:
What is copyright infringement?
What is plagiarism?
What is piracy?
What is P2P file sharing?
Game: Defending Authors and Performers
What is Digital Rights Management?
How can works on the Internet be protected?
But just in case it seems to be getting a little, well, blatant, there’s also a ‘game’ called ‘Spot the Infringement’.
And under “Reasons why we should not upload/download illegal copies of works ” WIPO states:
1) Risk of computer viruses and hacking. Downloaded music files can contain viruses. In addition, P2P software can sometimes contain ’spyware which gathers information about the computer without the user’s knowledge or consent. The P2P software that allows the sharing of music files can also allow strangers to view other files in the computer which the user would not want them to see.
2) Risk of lawsuits. The Internet is not anonymous, it is possible to identify individuals who illegally upload and download copyright material on P2P networks. Since 2003, the music industry has demonstrated that it will sue illegal users, regardless of their age.
3) Reduced choice of music. Illegal P2P file sharing reduces purchases of legal CDs which means that recording studios have a harder time\ recovering their investment on artists. By making the investment on new talent a risky business, illegal P2P file sharing makes it harder for new authors and performers to sign production and distribution deals. Recording studios may also try to reduce the risk of not recovering their investment by producing only the average type of music that many people like, making it less likely for truly original and creative authors and performers to be signed up.
It also includes this:
Can you identify which of the following are legal and illegal actions?
1) Making a copy of your classmate’s CD for your MP3 player:
2) Giving a friend a CD you bought for her as a present:
3) Giving a classmate a copy of a CD you bought for yourself:
4) Swapping a CD on an unauthorized P2P network:
5) Selling a CD that you bought at a second-hand garage sale:
6) Uploading a song written, composed and performed by you on a free downloading site:
7) Sending an MP3 file with your favorite song by e-mail to a classmate
Answers? WIPO states categorically:
1) Making a copy of your classmate’s CD for your MP3 player is illegal.
2) Giving a friend a CD you bought for her as a present is legal according to the first-sale doctrine.
3) Giving a classmate a copy of a CD you bought for yourself is illegal.
4) Swapping a CD on an unauthorized P2P network is illegal.
5) Selling a CD that you bought at a second-hand garage sale is legal according to the first-sale doctrine.
6) Uploading a song written, composed and performed by you on a free downloading site is legal, because as the author, you can do whatever you want with the works you create.
7) Sending an MP3 file with your favorite song by e-mail to your 60 classmate is illegal.
And to teachers:
This publication can be used to supplement literature and arts curricula, especially when students are asked to create original works in these areas. The ‘Think about it’ sections can be a starting point for class discussions on the importance of the arts and copyright.
Teachers may also complement this publication with a class session covering more specific information on the applicable national copyright law. Such information can be found in WIPO’s CLEA database: http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/index.jsp
Students are encouraged to complete the Creation Activity to understand the effort and number of people involved in creating, producing, performing and distributing an original work.
Finally, teachers can use this publication to encourage their students to create more original works, recognize their rights on those works, and respect the rights of other creators.
This publication may be photocopied for classroom use as it appears, without any alteration.
Every one of the online sources is, of course, a hard-core, (bought-and-paid-for?) corporate entertainment industry-friendly web page.
Genuine information sites such as the Wikipedia, which provide un-spun, non-vested-interest, non-corporate information and points of view, are conspicuous by their total absence.
Finally, “For any comments, questions and requests please contact kids@wipo.int,” says the book.
kids@wipo? Must be a children’s site. But No – it jumps straight to:
NEW AT WIPO
* WIPO Assemblies Meet. The meeting of WIPO Assemblies from September 24 to October 3 will take stock of progress in the Organization’s work and discuss future policy directions. More…
* European Community Accedes to Key Industrial Designs Treaty .”The EC accession is a major step towards broadening the geographical scope of the international design registration system,” said WIPO Director General, Kamil Idris. More…
* Measuring the Economic Impact of IP Systems. WIPO’s Japan Office has published results of a major study of the economic impact of IP systems in six Asian countries. More…
As I’ve said before, thank God we home-school our daughter.
Jon Newton – p2pnet
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September 28th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Excellent: get em young! Education is the best way to ensure compliance with our interests.
September 28th, 2007 at 10:26 am
“P2P file sharing makes it harder for new authors and performers to sign production and distribution deals.”
More properly
P2P file sharing makes it harder for new authors and performers to sign production and distribution GIVEAWAY deals.
“2) Giving a friend a CD you bought for her as a present is legal according to the first-sale doctrine.”
and
“a second-hand garage sale is legal according to the first-sale doctrine.”.
Nonsense.
Anything you buy, you can give away or resell or destroy. This is a natural right and has nothing to do with copyright rights.
“because as the author, you can do whatever you want with the works you create”
Wrong. Tell this to some who was sued for alleged difamation in a published article.
“Sending an MP3 file with your favorite song by e-mail to your 60 classmate is illegal”.
A contradition to what was previously said, “because as the author, you can do whatever you want with the works you create”. Besides many works (public domain works, or as allowed by the author….) may be distributed in any way, incling as mp3 files in e-mails.
As I have said before, legal advise by non lawyers (or unidentified lawyers) or by lawyers not licensed where the advise is received is dangerous and possibly illegal. WIPO is not a lawyer,
September 28th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Can you identify which of the following are legal and illegal actions?
Yes.
1) Making a copy of your classmate’s CD for your MP3 player:
*Legal and recommended This show appreciation for what your friends are doing for you.
2) Giving a friend a CD you bought for her as a present:
*Illegal. This is supporting terrorism punished by law. You should no longer buy CD.
3) Giving a classmate a copy of a CD you bought for yourself:
*Legal and recommended This show compassion for your friends I do this all the time. (Am I nice or what?)
4) Swapping a CD on an unauthorized P2P network:
*Legal. First there is no authorized p2p network and the alternative would be supporting foreign terrorist organization such as the RIAA or the CRIAA. That would be illegal.
5) Selling a CD that you bought at a second-hand garage sale:
*Legal and recommended because it help put the music parasites such as Vivendi universal, Sony/BMG, EMI and Time Warner out of business.
6) Uploading a song written, composed and performed by you on a free downloading site:
*Legal same answer as 5. While they download your songs they don’t dowload RIAA crap so that their stuff become forgoten.
7) Sending an MP3 file with your favorite song by e-mail to a classmate
*Legal and recommended This prevents your classmate from supporting terrorism.
I WIN! 7 out of 7! This is an A!
Yes!
September 28th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
This reminds me of the Nazi propaganda I heard about in high school. All of that Nazi “we can do what we want to them because they aren’t really humans” crap.
Brainwashing is still brainwashing, just ask the Taliban.
Another thing, isn’t this wipo group in copyright violation with their group’s name? Mad TV created a masked wrestler named “El Asso Wipo” for some of their skits. Mad TV should sue these copyright violators out of business!
September 28th, 2007 at 6:30 pm
What a bunch of ass-WIPO’s.
September 28th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
“As I’ve said before, thank God we home-school our daughter.”
Best one in the post!
September 30th, 2007 at 1:47 am
Can you identify which of the following are legal and illegal actions?
Yes I will too
1) Making a copy of your classmate’s CD for your MP3 player:
It should be freaken Legal Man because why are you paying hundreds of dollars for a mp3 player when you can’t get free music bonus for all the freaken money you pay.
Besides mp3 players are expensive and nothing is illegal about putting songs on your expensive mp3 player.
So it’e LEGAL
2) Giving a friend a CD you bought for her as a present:
This is Terrorism because then you are giving into the RIAA, MPAA, CRIA.
3) Giving a classmate a copy of a CD you bought for yourself:
This is LEGAL I repeat it L E G A L because you show that you care and that you don’t wanna support terrorism just to help a fellow classmate. By following this example your following the True World Of God by helping another person by making a copy of your cd.
4) Swapping a CD on an unauthorized P2P network:
So Trully Legal because not only are you against the foreign terrorist organizations such as the MPAA/Bush Administration/RIAA/CRIA(Canada eh)/BRIA(Britian)/ERIA(Europe)/ARIA(Africa) you are helping one another and your following the True World Of God by helping another person by filesharing. Heck in preschool your taught by ethics “Sharing Is Caring”. I know your copying a cd but it’s cheaper and means everyone can have a free copy and not just 1 kid or 2.
It would be illegal to support terrorism and terrorists should be thrown in Guantamo Bay
5) Selling a CD that you bought at a second-hand garage sale:
Legal because you will stop Terrorism till they fall and go out of business.
6) Uploading a song written, composed and performed by you on a free downloading site:
Super Legal because your beating the unfair $$$ terrorists at their own game without becoming a terrorist. Great Job Kiddo Woohoo!!
7) Sending an MP3 file with your favorite song by e-mail to a classmate
Legal: This helps stop and prevent terrorism. Keep your classmates from following the Nazis which also the corporations were helping during the extermination of the Jews. So if your with the illegal RIAA you support Adolf Hitler, the KKK, neo-nazis, and neo-cons of the Bush Administration.
I WIN! 7 out of 7! This is an A+! A 101 score WoW!
Great Job Kiddo woohoo!
September 30th, 2007 at 6:28 am
A question that should have been asked but was not:
If you take songs that you do not own, claim to own them and authorize record companies to record and sell millions of recors, is that infringement?
Answer: No, according to US Federal courts. You can do that anytime and nothing will happens. Just don’t share an mp3 fril. That is a real crime.
Read about the court decision here:
http://www.libervis.com/article/judge_appropriation_of_songs_is_not_infringement
Let WIPO explain this to kids.
September 30th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
why are you guys so surprised? an organisation where even the director general misrepresents stuff so blatantly, of course such an organisation is well in bed with those obsolete label parasites and will use their propaganda without hesitation!
“In 2006, Idris moved to correct his recorded birth date at WIPO from 1945 to 1954, more than two decades after joining the organisation and climbing the ranks. The WIPO paper took aim at a confidential report by the internal auditor that found a pattern of decades of misrepresentation of his age by the director general, which may have helped him to obtain higher positions in the organisation, according to a copy obtained of the report (IPW, WIPO, 20 February 2007).”
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=761&res=800_ff
October 1st, 2007 at 11:40 am
This is a letter that WIPO should send to all the kids of the world.
Dear Beloved Kids
We are your friend and want to help you in avoiding trouble. You may have read the message when playing a DVD that states that copyright infringement copying of the DVD may result in five years in jail and a penalty of $250,000.
Surely uou have asked yourself why such a draconian penalty? …. for just copying a DVD that may result in the loss of a $10 profit to the DVD producer, the money the producer did not make because you decided not to purchase the DVD, and copied it instead.
Why a penalty 25,000 times greater than the actual damages? And jail time in the company of murderes and drug dealers on top of that, up to five years?
There are good reasons for that, our dear and beloved friend.
We have found that unsless the penalties are dreaconian people will simply no obey the law, with the potential that people will stop buying CDs. Than the actors you admire so much will stop finding work with the movie studios and may actually go hungry. Just imagine Tom cruise, Robert Redford, Robin Wiliams and Tom Hanks asking for help at the Salvation Army.
You don’t want that, do you? We at WIPO don’t want that either.
For sure we dont want to see children in a cell shared with murderes and drug dealers. Beside, the punishment is far greate than five years in jail if we consider the pain to your parents and siblings. To get an idea, just multiply 5 year by the number of members in your family. Just think, one of your family members could comit suicide as a result of you copying one single DVD. We don’t want you to commit that error.
A final advise. Drug dealing is less risky than copying a DVD. After all, drug dealers hav a pre-arranged web of lawyers ready to represent the dealers once they are arrested. DVD copiers have no such service available. Better to take up dreug dealing instead.
Your friendly WIPO adviser.