[WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS: UN Sidelines IPR-Reform & Digital Rights

[Robin Gross]

13 November 2005

IP Justice at World Summit in Tunis
UN Sidelines IPR-Reform & Digital Rights

(Tunis) IP Justice is participating in the United Nations' World Summit 
on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis from 14-19 November 2005.

IP Justice is at WSIS to raise awareness about the harm to traditional 
civil liberties, such as freedom of expression and privacy rights, 
caused by the current international trend of expanding IP rights.

In this second and final WSIS summit, international leaders meet to 
discuss issues such as "Internet governance" and "bridging the gap in 
the digital divide".  IP Justice will address the WSIS General Plenary 
and has organized two WSIS panel discussions to discuss WIPO-reform and 
P2P file-sharing.

IP Justice Executive Director Robin Gross was nominated by the WSIS 
Civil Society Secretariat to address the WSIS General Plenary during the 
Tunis Summit.  Ms. Gross is perhaps the only speaker to address the 
plenary who advocates for the reform of intellectual property rights 
(IPR), which have been skewed in favor of IPR holders and against the 
public interest.

"Large entertainment companies' fear of Internet piracy has triggered an 
over-reaction that is among the greatest threats to our digital rights," 
said Robin Gross, Executive Director of IP Justice, an international 
civil liberties organization.

Unfortunately the topic of the proper balance in setting intellectual 
property rights has been largely ignored throughout WSIS.  Considering 
the fact that IPR is one of the most important issues shaping both laws 
and technologies in the information society, its absence in WSIS debates 
is troubling.  Stanford University Law Professor Lawrence Lessig reports 
that he was explicitly told that he could not discuss intellectual 
property rights at a recent WSIS preparatory meeting.

How can the recognized excesses in IP rights be too controversial of a 
topic for the United Nations to consider?  Some worry that the UN has 
little incentive to highlight problems at the World Intellectual 
Property Organization (WIPO), the UN's own Specialized Agency that 
convenes treaties to set IP rights.

One controversial issue surrounding WSIS, which is being widely 
discussed, is the UN's decision to hold the Summit in Tunisia.  The 
Tunisian government is renowned for its harsh treatment of bloggers and 
other online journalists who criticize the policies of Tunisian 
authorities.  Internet access is highly restricted by the government and 
many websites are simply unreachable.  Tunisians face imprisonment for 
questioning their government's treatment of civil liberties.  Since the 
United States Government is desperate for a political ally in the 
region, it will not intercede in Tunisia's human rights violations.

Robin Gross stated, "I plan to take full advantage of the 'diplomatic 
immunity' I am granted as a UN Summit attendee to discuss the importance 
of freedom of expression.  The right to discuss unpopular opinions or 
question government policies is a fundamental human right guaranteed 
under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Unfortunately, I'll 
have more freedom to speak in Tunisia than Tunisians are granted by 
their own government."

Certainly one of the most important issues at the Tunis Summit is the 
future of "Internet governance".  The US has historically controlled 
root access to the Internet, but the international community is growing 
increasingly uncomfortable with US dominance in cyberspace.  Some 
predict that WSIS may lead to the creation of a new international body 
to rival the US Commerce Department's Internet Corporation for Assigned 
Names and Numbers (ICANN) for control over the root.  The European Union 
recently joined a broad coalition of countries including Brazil, China, 
and Russia that advocate for a transfer of power to an international entity.

"Despite legitimate concern over US dominance, the replacement with a 
highly bureaucratic entity to manage the Internet with even fewer 
guarantees of freedom of expression seems to be 'a remedy worse than the 
disease'", said Robin Gross.

Stay tuned for more from WSIS ....

IP Justice Executive Director Robin Gross to address WSIS General 
Plenary on Friday 18 November 2005 at 12:00 (approx).
Live webcast available here:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/tunis/webcast/index.asp

IP Justice WSIS parallel event panel discussion:
"The Role of WIPO and NGO's to Balance Intellectual Property Rights"
16 November Thursday (15:00-17:00) ~ Room Goulette in Kram PalExpo
IP Justice Executive Director Robin Gross moderates the panel discussion
More detailed info on panel here:
http://www.ipjustice.org/WSIS/WIPOpanel.shtml

WSIS parallel event panel discussion:
"P2P File-Sharing, Digital Rights, and e-Democracy"
17 November Thursday (17:00-19:00) ~ Room Sousse in Kram PalExpo
IP Justice Executive Director Robin Gross moderates the panel discussion
More detailed info on panel here:
http://www.ipjustice.org/WSIS/P2P_panel.shtml

IP Justice WSIS Information and Analysis:
http://www.ipjustice.org/WSIS/

Official WSIS Website:
http://www.itu.int/wsis/

Contact: Robin Gross
robin at ipjustice.org