Balanced Intellectual Property Policies

OECD Releases New Publication on Progress Since the Seoul 2008 Declaration

September 30, 2013

The OECD has released a new publication titled "The Internet Economy on the Rise: Progress since the Seoul Declaration." This publication reviews progress made since the 2008 OECD Seoul Declaration for the Future of the Internet Economy and identifies areas for future work. Seven themes are addressed: high-speed infrastructure; digital content and green ICTs; the development of smarter applications; cybersecurity and privacy; consumer empowerment and protection; an open Internet economy; and global participation for development.

OECD Information, Computer and Communications Policy: First Round Meeting

February 23, 2010

The 28th meeting of the Working Party on Information Security and Privacy (WPISP) will be held on 8-9 March, 2010. The meeting will address several important issues of interest to CSISAC members such as identity management, the protection of children online, the 30th Anniversary of the OECD privacy guidelines. The 59th meeting of the Committee for Information, Computer and Communications Policy meeting (ICCP) will be held on March 10-11, 2010. Topics to be discussed are ICT & green growth, ICT & innovation, internet intermediaries: policy implications, among other topics.

Marc Rotenberg, Anna Fielder, CSISAC Steering Committee Members, and Katitza Rodriguez, CSISAC Liaison will attend the meeting.

CSISAC Statements on Internet Policy

January 21, 2010

The CSISAC has submitted a series of recommendations to the OECD Committee for Information, Computer and Communications Policy (ICCP) and its working parties on a variety of Internet Policy issues.

ICT and the Environment: CSISAC stressed the importance of innovation and the adoption of ICT applications for the monitoring and management of environmental challenges, such as "smart" ICT applications. CSISAC urges the expansion of dialogue among all stakeholders regarding privacy implications of "smart" ICT. CSISAC also stressed the importance of data protection in every field of application of sensor networks, and any other tracking technology.

Internet Intermediaries: The document highlights civil society concerns on legal approaches to intermediary liability. As noted in the Seoul Declaration, OECD Member countries should "maintain a balanced framework for intellectual property protection that is least intrusive to personal privacy, least restrictive for the development of new technologies, and that promotes creativity, innovation, and learning."

Internet and the News: CSISAC believes that a strong and independent news industry can be an important contributor to robust democracy. CSISAC believes that any policy recommendations that are not based on common standards present in all OECD member countries' copyright and other related laws should be avoided. CSISAC believes that this will assist OECD member governments in thoughtful policy development which respects the important social role played by journalists and the news industry, while preserving opportunities for emerging new forms of citizen journalism and Internet innovation.

IPV6: CSISAC submitted comments on the co-existence of two incompatible Internet standards, IPv4 and IPv6. CSISAC encourages the OECD to consider undertaking more in-depth analysis on the economic and policy implications of an extended migration period in which IPv4 address scarcity is a continuing factor in the Internet supply industry. "There may or may not be cost burdens created by the transition, or negative impacts on competition, diversity and innovation on the Internet. But these problems have not been clearly documented and explained", the statement noted. CSISAC encourages a more direct consideration of policy alternatives to IPv6 in light of inadequate rates of IPv6 deployment and the realities the Internet community faces due to the lack of backwards compatibility between IPv6 and IPv4.

OECD - ICCP Committee meets in Paris

October 7, 2009

The Committee for Information, Computer and Communications Policy of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will host a series of meeting from October 12-16, 2009 in Paris, France.

The 27th Meeting of the Working Party on Information Security and Privacy (WPISP) will be held in October 12-13. From Emerging Privacy issues to portability, competition, and innovation, the ICCP Technology Foresight Forum on Cloud Computing will be held on October 15. A briefing Paper on Cloud Computing and Public Policy prepared for the Forum has been released.

The 58th session of the Committee for Information, Computer and Communications Policy will be held at the OECD Headquarters in October 15-16, 2009.

The Civil Society Information Society Advisory Council will be represented by Gus Hosein from Privacy International, Gwen Hinze, International Policy Director Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and member of CSISAC Steering Committee, and Katitza Rodriguez, CSISAC Liaison, and International Privacy Director Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC).

On One Web Day: CSISAC reaffirmed its commitment to the Civil Society Seoul Declaration on the Future on Internet

September 22, 2009

Civil Society participants at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Future on the Internet affirmed "that the policy goals for the Future of the Internet should be considered within the broader framework of protection of human rights, the promotion of democratic institutions, and the provision of affordable and non-discriminatory access to advanced communication infrastructures and services. Economic growth should be for the many and not the few. The Internet should be available to all."

New OECD book on Piracy of Digital Content

July 29, 2009

The OECD has released a new book "Piracy of Digital Content", that examines the "infringement of copyrighted content (such as music, films, software, broadcasting, books, etc.) where the end product does not involve the use of hard media, such as CDs and DVDs."

All the information about the book is available at OECD: Online Bookshop.

See also: OECD book "The Economic Impact of Counterfeiting and Piracy"

CSISAC´s Submission on Internet Intermediaries (Updated)

August 24, 2009

CSISAC logo The Expert Group on Internet Intermediaries of the Civil Society Information Society Advisory Council (CSISAC) released a paper with recommendations to the OECD for its work in this area.

As CSISAC stated in the Civil Society Seoul Declaration, OECD Member countries should "maintain a balanced framework for intellectual property protection that is least intrusive to personal privacy, least restrictive for the development of new technologies, and that promotes creativity, innovation, and learning." The document highlight civil society concerns in what we see as the three main areas of focus of the ICCP report - (1) The Scope of the Report - Categorizing Internet Intermediaries; (2) Social and Economic Benefits provided by Internet Intermediaries; and (3) Co-operative Mechanisms including Legal Approaches to Intermediary Liability.

The Expert Group on Internet Intermediaries is led by the Electronic Frontier Foundation

CSISAC's Paper on Internet Intermediaries has been translated into Spanish by Phol Paucar.

Upcoming Meeting of the Working Party on Internet Economy (WPIE)

June 14, 2009

The Working Party on Internet Economy (WPIE) will be held on June 17-18 in Paris, France. This Committee focuses on digital content, ICT diffusion to business, ICT-enabled offshoring, ICT skills and employment, the publication of the OECD Information Technology Outlook, and ICTs and the Environment.

Some topics that this Committee addressed are:

  • Economic impacts of broadband; Digital broadband content (public sector information, film and video, online advertising); Access and distribution to digital content, including user generated content; content protection, mobile commerce; RFID and other sensors.

Some issues that might be of interest of CSISAC members are:

  • Balance Intellectual Property Policies, Digital Inclusion, Employment, ICT & The Environment, A2K, Privacy & Transparency, Pluralistic Media, Consumer Protection


Upcoming Meeting of the Communication and Information Services Policy Meeting

June 14, 2009

The Working Party on Communication and Information Services Policy (CISP) will be held on June 15-18 in Paris. France. This Committee "reviews telecommunications and Internet policy, reviews developments in information infrastructure: regulatory reform, convergence of telecommunication, Internet, cable television and broadcasting networks".

Some topics that this Committee addressed are:


  • Telecommunications regulation, Domain Name System, IP network connection and interoperability, competition in voice markets; Policy and regulatory implications of new wireless technologies; sensors Networks, RFID; New applications, services and protocols, Bandwidth and traffic exchange.

Some issues that might be of interest of CSISAC members are:

  • Intellectual Property, Privacy & Data Protection, Consumer Rights, Internet Governance, Network Neutrality, Digital Inclusion

OECD Website: Innovation Strategy

January 29, 2009

OECD logoThe new OECD website on Innovation Strategy will discuss how innovation works in a global market for science and technology. Their goal is to help policy makers improve framework conditions.

OECD Event: ICT & Innovation

January 29, 2009

OECD logoOn December 11, 2008, OECD-BIAC organized a workshop on ICT and Innovation in Paris, France. The workshop was designed as an input to the OECD Innovation Strategy. The meeting focused on the ICT sector itself and innovation ICT applications across sectors, current economic challenges and supporting policy.

OECD Event: Internet Governance Forum, Hyderabad

January 29, 2009

OECD logoIn December 2008. the OECD participated in the third Internet Governance Forum which took place in Hyderabad, India. This included organizing an Open Forum on the Outcomes of the Seoul Ministerial Chaired by Ambassador David Gross, Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, United States. Panelists for this event included Peter Voss, Head of Division, International Policy for Information & Communication Technologies, Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Germany; Tom Walker, Director Europe and International, BERR, United Kingdom; Gulshan Rai, Director at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, India; Joseph H. Alhadeff, Vice President for Global Public Policy and Chief Privacy Officer, Oracle Corporation , Chair of BIAC's Information, Computer and Communication (ICCP) Committee, Vice Chair of ICC's Commission on E-Business, IT and Telecoms; Katitza Rodríguez Pereda, Public Voice Coordinator; Bill Graham, Strategic Global Engagement, Office of the President, Internet Society (ISOC) and Marcus Courtney, Head of Department, UNI Telecom Global Union.

OECD Report: Digital Rights Managements Disclosure

January 29, 2009

OECD logoPrepared by the OECD Committee on Consumer Policy (CCP), this report analyzes the disclosure issues raised by the use of digital rights management (DRM) and copy control technologies (CCTs) to protect intellectual property rights. More specifically, it examines the kinds of restrictions that are commonly placed on access or use of protected material (for example, restrictions on making back-ups or private copies) and the disclosures provided to inform consumers about these restrictions.

OECD Ministerial: Civil Society Seoul Declaration

January 2, 2009

CSISAC logoA diverse group of civil society organizations and individuals from the Public Voice Coalition worked on a joint Civil Society Declaration to the OECD 2008 Ministerial Meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy, which took place in Seoul in June 2008.

This document raises a number of issues of major importance to the civil society community and makes a number of recommendations to move towards the future of the Internet that meets the essential needs of all the world's citizens. The declaration has been signed by (so far) 86 organizations and more than 99 individuals.

OECD Ministerial: The OECD Seoul Declaration

January 1, 2009

OECD logoWith the slogan "Shaping Policies for Creativity, Confidence and Convergence in the Digital World", the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) held the 2008 Ministerial Meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy in Seoul, South Korea on June 17 and 18. In all, close to 2,200 participants from 68 economies attended the Meeting, which was webcast.

All the materials are placed online

OECD Ministerial: Civil Society Forum

January 1, 2009

CSISAC logoOn June 16, 2008, more than 150 participants from 15 countries gathered in Seoul, South Korea, for the Civil Society - Labor Forum "Making the Future of the Internet Economy Work for Citizens, Consumers, and Workers. The event was organized by the The Public Voicecoalition, the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC), and the OECD Civil Society Reference group, which includes the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), the Canadian Internet Policy and Public interest Clinic (CIPPIC), Consumers Korea (CK), the European Digital Rights Initiative (EDRI), the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), the Internet Governance Project (IGP), and the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD).

OECD Ministerial: Speakers presentation at the Civil Society Forum

June 30, 2008

CSISAC logoThe presentations of all the speakers at the OECD Civil Society Forum are now available online. The forum consists of interactive policy round tables, covering the future of the Internet from 5 perspectives: the Human and political dimension; Towards a better future – Decent work, social justice and sustainable development in a global Internet economy; Fueling creativity and access to knowledge (A2K); Ensuring consumer and privacy protection and benefiting from convergence

OECD Ministerial: Civil Society Closing Remarks

June 30, 2008

OECD logoStatement presented by Anriette Esterhuysen of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) at the closing of OECD ministerial conference on the future Internet economy on June 18, 2008.

OECD Ministerial: Civil Society Policy Paper (CS Paper)

June 30, 2008

CSISAC logoCivil Society Participants in the Public Voice Coalition published a Civil Society Policy Paper, which was presented at the OECD Ministerial Meeting on the Future of the Internet Economy held on 17-18 June 2008 in Seoul, Korea.