Our ability as a society to transmit vast amounts of information has grown exponentially over the last decade. Volumes of encyclopedia, books, magazines, newspapers—let alone music—have become almost instantly downloadable and retrievable, further feeding the frenzy of electronic consumption. While to downloaders and users it may seem that there is little or no real […]
Advances in technology facilitating dissemination of digital files inevitably poses challenges on enforcement of existing copyright laws. Prince’s lawsuit, if filed, would be of significance in setting the standard of care to which file-sharing providers (YouTube), indexing services (The Pirate Bay) and online trade forums (EBay) should exercise to prevent making copyright-infringing works available […]
It seems that hassle-free entertainment at the movie theatre is truly becoming a thing of the past. The film industry has taken some aggressive measures to combat pirating in Canada, as evidenced by increased security patrol in the theatres, knapsack searches and the use of metal detectors and night-vision goggles. As foreign lobby groups and […]
Celebrity "news" programs seem to fill the channels on our televisions at all times of the day. Magazine racks are weighted down with the latest celebrity gossip. Companies regularly hire celebrity spokespersons to "hawk their wares" in infomercials and advertisements. Is it any wonder that these celebrities are determined to control the use of their […]
In this age where the advancement and innovation of science and technology is heavily sought after as an ideal, and the “progress of science” specifically promoted by the US Constitution, it seems altogether inappropriate that Verizon was able to sue Vonage for damages amounting to US$58 million for infringing 3 of its patents that […]
The past two decades have been marked by extreme technological advances.¦lt;br /> The internet has opened many doors in the way of business transactions, availability of resources and research and most notably a new communication ability and efficiency. In 2003, Linden Research Inc. launched Second Life which is one of the newest developments in […]
The ever-growing world of online social networking is a creature with many faces. From organizing events to finding companionship, programs such as Facebook offer something for everybody. But as the recent fiasco involving Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers shows, beneath the superficial glitter lies a dark and potentially dangerous side to the technology. […]
While it may be somewhat premature to criticize the government on their plans to criminalize identity theft, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson’s recent announcement seems to demonstrate the government’s rather narrow appreciation for the scope of the problem. Based on a reading of the press release provided by the Office of the Minister of Justice […]
Am I being naïve? I hope not. I sincerely hope that I am not being naïve believing in the fairness and equity of the law, and believing that the courts are actually being just – especially when they judge in cases involving humanitarian organizations such as the Red Cross. The company Johnson and Johnson, the […]
In 2003, the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development ("Tufts") estimated the cost to develop a new drug to be in excess of $850 million.¦lt;br /> Today, that figure is likely well into the billions. Tufts also found that approximately 20% of new drugs that enter clinical testing eventually receive U.S. marketing approval. […]