The latest round of WIPO negotiations on a broadcasting treaty, which took place at the start of May, ended somewhat inconclusively. As the US pet proposal of including "webcasting" monopoly powers in the treaty held up everything else, the negotiators agreed to schedule yet another preparatory meeting for September before deciding to hold a formal diplomatic conference, where the proposed treaty would be fine-tuned and adopted.
The controversial "webcasting" proposal was put on a separate negotiating track, for now. What this means is uncertain, as usual with WIPO. But for now, it probably is good news. Read more at EFF Deeplinks, where Gwen says:
Even if webcasting and simulcasting are out, the remaining
"traditional" broadcasting and cablecasting treaty is still bad news.
It will be detrimental for technology innovation. It includes
broadcaster technological protection measures that will require
technology mandate laws like the U.S. FCC Broadcast Flag regulation
over televisions, radios and possibly even personal computers. The
treaty could create the global legal framework for tech mandate laws
that rival the proposed U.S. broadcast and digital radio flag
mandates. As EFF, Intel Corp. and many others have noted, the
combination of DRM mandates with novel rights raises serious threats
to innovative entertainment technologies.
