Mark Kohras is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. On March 3 2011, a ruling was made in a highly anticipated French libel case. The case, involving a defamation claim for posting a critical book review on the internet, was highly anticipated for two reasons. First, because of the potential chilling effect on book reviews. […]
Dan Whalen is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. The New York Times reported that many of the major players in the global pharmaceutical industry are set to lose exclusive rights to 10 blockbuster drugs of combined annual sales close to US$50 billion. No mere fluke, this news marks the beginning of an […]
Matt Lonsdale is a JD candidate at Dalhousie University. In a ruling heavy with statutory interpretation, the U.S. Supreme Court held on March 1st that for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act, corporations have no “personal” privacy interests that would allow them to qualify for exceptions to the mandatory disclosure rules of the Act. AT&T, […]
Matt Lonsdale is a JD candidate at Dalhousie University. The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York released their decision in the fairness hearing on the latest proposed settlement in the Google Books class action proceedings. Judge Denny Chin refused to grant final approval for the Amended Settlement Agreement (ASA). “The […]
Erica Lewin is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School and currently enrolled in the course Law & Social Change: Law & Music, in Winter 2011. As part of the course requirements, students are asked to write a blog on a topic of their choice. I have seen the rise and gradual decline of the walkman […]
Judge Chin of the US District Court (Southern District of New York) has rejected the Google Books Settlement. See the decision. Kenneth Crews, founding director of the Copyright Advisory Office at Columbia University, summarizes the decision. He concludes by asking, "What is next?" and answers as follows: "The parties may accept the invitation to convert […]
Leslie Chong is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Members from various communities impacted by the current copyright reform had a chance to voice their praise and concerns with the proposed amendments in Bill C-32. During their opening statements at the Legislative Committee hearings held on March 8 and 10, 2011, speakers that […]
Leslie Chong is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Benjamin Arrow’s article “Real-Life Protection for Fictional Trademarks” addresses the issues that arise when real-life companies attempt to exploit trademarks established in fictional worlds. Dubbed by commentators as “The Arrow Principle”, the author suggests that, as the use of the brand shifts from the […]
Mark Kohras is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Last Friday, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a decision in the case of Seidel v. TELUS Communications Inc. This case highlights a key issue in contract law; the operability of arbitration clauses and class action waivers in the consumer protection context. The case related […]
Ivy Tsui is a JD candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School. Water is a crisis of inconsiderate policy making and poor water management. Governments, policy makers and communities around the world must actively engage in addressing water management challenges. For example, the research arm of innovations must be strengthened and technology transfer must be spread […]