So, what’s this page about?
I have long been interested in intellectual property (IP) and writing about why it matters to our economic and cultural life. IP has big implications in the new media sphere as journalists and publishers try to figure out new business models that can allow them to earn a living from the flood of content moving online. This page provides a quick resource for others who may be interested in IP.
Just what is IP?
Once considered simply a niche area of the law, IP issues are now front and center in political debates about business, health and creative freedom. IP is essentially about who owns ideas and is expressed through legal rules associated with patents, copyright and trademark.
So how can I stay up on this stuff?
There is no shortage of blogs, newsletters and forums devoted to IP. Here is a link to my own newsletter and some of my favourite sites:
IP News this Week gathers the week’s intellectual property news from major world newspapers and online sources and offers a short, light-hearted summary in a series of headlines.
IP Kat is a blog written by a team of very smart Brits with a penchant for cats. Offers regular updates on all things IP in the UK and Europe.
PatentlyO is THE source for discussions on American patent law. Not for beginners.
Intellectual Property Watch is a foundation-supported non-profit group that offers great insider scoops on IP policy issues and provides informed updates about IP in general.
Centre for Intellectual Property Policy: CIPP is a network of professors based at the law faculty of McGill University. Their site offers terrific resources about IP in Canada and beyond.
Michael Geist is a professor at the University of Ottawa who works tirelessly to detect and decipher the latest machinations underlying Canadian copyright policy.
VideoNuze is written by a smart guy in Silicon Valley who offers daily observations about how companies are bringing video to the Internet and their attempts to make money at doing so.
IP Dragon is a charming blog out of China that offers both IP news and a useful resources to understand intellectual property in the Middle Kingdom.
