Matthew Derricott ← Innovation Law Blog

RIM launches patent suit against Kik Interactive

Dec

2010

As reported in the Globe and Mail, Research in Motion has launched a patent infringement lawsuit against Kik Interactive Ltd. RIM claims that Kik Messanger infringes on their patent for Blackberry Messenger. They claim that Kik’s CEO was previously employed at RIM and after leaving the company “he quickly went about starting his own instant messaging ...

The problem with “intellectual property”

Matthew Derricott

Nov

2010

I recently read an article by Richard Stallman where it was suggested that “if you want to think clearly about the issues raised by patents, or copyrights, or trademarks, the first step is to forget the idea of lumping them together, and treat them as separate topics”. The essence of the article is that lumping ...

Access Copyright proposes costly new licencing scheme

Matthew Derricott

Sep

2010

In a recent article for the Toronto Star Michael Geist reported that Access Copyright is proposing a new licencing scheme to cover copying and course packs at post secondary institutions. Access Copyright is a copyright collective licences copying and course packs across the country. The proposal would see the fee set at $45 per university ...

Naked Cowboy trademark dispute

Matthew Derricott

Jul

2010

It has been reported that the famous New York street musician Robert Burck, known as “The Naked Cowboy”, is suing rival busker Sandy Kane for trademark violation. Burck claims that his look is trademarked and that Kane was “seeking to earn a living by appropriating his intellectual property for her own commercial benefit”.

Canada being bullied into copyright reform

Matthew Derricott

Jul

2010

There is an excellent article by Cory Doctorow on guardian.co.uk that highlights the problems with protecting digital locks and suggests that Canada is being bullied into the reforms by the United States. Doctorow points out that after wide public consultation regarding copyright reform the consensus was to “let us have protection for digital locks, but ...

Is the new copyright bill good for gamers?

Matthew Derricott

Jun

2010

An article by Danielle LaBossiere Parr, executive director of the Entertainment Software Association of Canada, appeared recently in the Calgary Herald. The article was titled “Why gamers should love copyright bill” and set about explaining why the new bill is good for gamers. Parr cites a “300 percent increase in the number of games illegally ...

India argues that ACTA restricts developing economies 1

Matthew Derricott

Jun

2010

The Register reports that India recently submitted a document to the World Trade Organization which is critical of ACTA. One of India’s main concerns is that the agreement has the potential to destabilize existing international agreements and damage the economies of developing nations. They also argue that, when it comes to intellectual property reform, ACTA ...

Rock Band/Gibson lawsuit settled

Matthew Derricott

Jun

2010

Networkworld.com is reporting that the lawsuit between Gibson and Harmonix, which was initiated in 2008, has been settled. Gibson was suing Harmonix for infringement of its virtual guitar patent in the popular Rock Band video game series. Gibson had already settled a suit with Activision, publisher of the Guitar Here series, last year regarding the same patent.

Conservatives seeking allies in drafting of new copyright legislation

Matthew Derricott

May

2010

The Globe and Mail reports that the Conservatives are “actively looking to recruit allies across the Commons floor” to support and help shape the proposed copyright legislation. The bill is expected to be introduced later this week and reportedly will, among other things, make it a crime to pick “digital locks” attached to media files. ...

Beyonce pirating her own music?

Matthew Derricott

Mar

2010

It is being reported on thewrap.com that Sony Music has blocked videos of Beyonce appearing on YouTube for copyright infringement. What’s interesting is that the videos being blocked are on Beyonce’s own YouTube channel. The article states that “Sony’s move is the first time a record company has shut down one of its own superstars”.