[free-sklyarov] Lessig on WIPO (short)

[Erik Moeller]

Here's the reply I got from Larry Lessig on the relevance of the WIPO 
Copyright Treaty to the issues discussed on the list, my original 
mail is also quoted below. For more on WIPO, see my summary:

http://www.infoanarchy.org/?op=displaystory;sid=2001/8/4/53534/20827

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Sun, 05 Aug 2001 19:47:50 -0700
Subject:        	Re: WIPO Copyright Treaty
From:           	Lawrence Lessig <lessig at pobox.com>
To:             	Erik Moeller <moeller at scireview.de>

The treaty does push for DMCA like legislation, but most nations (even
those ratifying the treaty) have not yet enacted DMCA legislation. I
think the WIPO treaty should be opposed, so I do think it would be
good to identify this as a problem. -- 

Lessig
Stanford Law School
Crown Quadrangle
559 Nathan Abbott Way
Stanford, CA  94305-8610
650.736.0999 (vx)
650.723.8440 (fx)
415.430.1269 x7727 (e fax)
<http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/lessig>
mailto:lessig at pobox.com

> From: "Erik Moeller" <moeller at scireview.de>
> Organization: Scientific Review Service
> Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 07:44:31 +0200
> To: lessig at eff.org
> Subject: WIPO Copyright Treaty
> 
> Dear Professor Lessig,
> 
> as a legal expert who is familiar with the Sklyarov case, what do
> you think about the WIPO Copyright Treaty? As far as I understand
> it, it is the direct "cause" of the DMCA and similar international
> laws and was agreed on by delegates of the WIPO member nations
> during the December 1996 meeting.
> 
> But member nations seem to have no actual obligation to enforce the
> treaty, and it could in fact be denounced with no consequences. Do
> you think it would make sense to
> 
> - denounce the 1996 WIPO Copyright Treaty and replace the DMCA with
> more reasonable national law / repeal it - protest at the next WIPO
> copyright meeting (Nov 26-30 in Geneva) - submit papers to the WIPO
> convention - get organizations like the EFF to participate in the
> convention?
> 
> I think WIPO may be a better target than the national goverments,
> since they specifically deal with these issues. What do you think?
> 
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Erik Moeller
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Scientific Reviewer, Freelancer, Humanist -- Berlin/Germany
> Phone: +49-30-45491008 - Web: <http://www.humanist.de/erik>
> The Origins of Peace and Violence: <http://www.violence.de>
> 
> "History is full of people who, out of fear or ignorance or the lust
> for power, have destroyed treasures of immeasurable value which
> truly belong to all of us. We must not let it happen again." -- Carl
> Sagan
> 

------- End of forwarded message -------

-- 
Scientific Reviewer, Freelancer, Humanist -- Berlin/Germany
Phone: +49-30-45491008 - Web: <http://www.humanist.de/erik>
The Origins of Peace and Violence: <http://www.violence.de>

"History is full of people who, out of fear or ignorance or the lust 
for power, have destroyed treasures of immeasurable value which truly
belong to all of us. We must not let it happen again." -- Carl Sagan