Australian Technology and IP Business

Geographical indications: protected names in Australia

A Geographical Indication (GI) is an official description of a region to protect the reputation and name of a product of that region.

In Australia the only geographic indications are for an Australian wine zone, region or sub-region. GI is similar to the Appellation naming system used in Europe. There are no Australian geographic indications currently for food products.

GIs are determined by the Geographical Indications Committee, a statutory authority of the Australian Wine and Brandy Council (AWBC), and listed on the Register of Protected Names, which is maintained by the AWBC.

The GI system was introduced in 1993 to allow Australia to fulfil its Agreements with the European Community on Trade in Wine and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

The Register therefore contains geographical indications in relation to wines manufactured in an agreement country and the conditions (if any) applicable to those indications (eg Champagne, Chianti) as well as geographic indications in relation to wines manufactured in Australia (Margaret River, Barossa Valley).

Viacom sues YouTube and Google

The biggest news in copyright on the internet is Viacom v YouTube and Google (pdf copy of complaint via Lessig).

For a less serious perspective here's Jon Stewart's The Daily Show and Demetri Martin. (Note that I've linked to the Comedy Central's lawful version which includes a short lawful ad at the beginning...worth sitting through).

Venture capital in Queensland

The Venture Capital Unit at the Queensland Department of State Development is promoting the following events:

1.  ilab Seminar - Sources Of Capital For Start-ups - Tuesday 17th April, Toowong
2.  First Tuesday - Tuesday 3rd April, Brisbane
3.  Founders Forum - Tuesday 17th April, Gold Coast
4.  AICD Briefing Series - Expansion Capital & Exit Strategies - Tuesday 17th April, Gold Coast

International Trade Mark Information: ROMARIN database

The ROMARIN database contains information regarding all international marks recorded under the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks and the Protocol Relating to that Agreement, that are currently in force in the International Register.

An online version of ROMARIN is updated daily and free.

ROMARIN stands for "Read-Only-Memory of Madrid Active  Registry INformation".

Open Source as Business Strategy

Ron Goldman and Richard P. Gabriel, the authors of Innovation Happens Elsewhere: Open Source as Business Strategy have published their book online.

It describes what open source is, discusses business reasons for using open source, and describes how an open source project works in a day-to-day manner. It will help you decide on whether open source is right for your project, and, if so, what steps you should take to proceed and some mistakes you should avoid. (via BizzBangBuzz)

Copyright, the internet and the entertainment industry

I attended a terrific public address last night by Professor Terry Fisher (Harvard University) at the State Library organised by QUT's IP: KCE research group.

In 1 hour Fisher took us on a tour of copyright issues in the enertainment industry from the past, how they are affected today by the internet and he then suggested some alternative futures.

What made his presentation so effective was his use of an economic framework, not just a legal one, starting with consumption and production and reference to statistics of what was actually happening.

Although he used charts and only one video (the "Grey movie") his visual presentation was based on a mindmap (using Freemind) with links to charts on powerpoint and keynote.

He gave 4 possible futures (and suggested there might be a combination of one or all of them):
1. Strengthen existing IP rights
2. Reinforce self-help strategies
3. An alternative compensation system.(the most radical)
4. A renewed entertainment ecology.

He argued that the existing entertainment giants prefer 1 and 2. He is in favour of 3 and if not 3, then 4.

Number 3 (a new compensation system) proposes that there be no copyright for digital content but that there be a new tax to pay creators of content including a tax of $5 a month per user of broadband internet services. The money would be distributed based on the frequency of consumption (ie watching/listening) not by downloads. Any counting technology would need to overcome privacy issues and manipulation.

His next best alternative is 4, a whole new framework which compensates creators fairly but makes digital content freely available by allowing new business models.

He gave an example of a new project in which he has an interest: Noank Media.

Summary: a whirlwind 1 hour tour of the issues plus an insight into possible futures.

Website take down notices

Peter Black at Freedom to Differ has a good analysis of take down notices under Reg 20J of the Copyright Regulations as used by the NSW Minerals Council against a critical web site.

Online legal services

Sinch is running an Online Legal Services Conference in Sydney on 29 March.

It will explore the web developments that will impact on how the legal profession operates both now and in coming years.

There is a great line-up of speakers (including overseas experts who will participate by phone).

And I'll be there.