Talks on global broadcast treaty fail

Talks on an international treaty updating broadcast rights to accommodate the Internet failed Friday because countries were unable to agree how much legal and technological protection to afford broadcasters, a U.S. official said. The AP reports.

"The treaty fell victim to disagreements over issues such as whether protection against piracy should cover only traditional broadcasting methods — meaning cable, antenna and satellite signals — or whether it should include retransmission over the Internet", said Paul Salmon, head of the U.S. delegation.

European countries wanted to give broadcasters rights over any content they transmit — even if they did not originally produce the content.

That type of rights-based treaty is opposed by electronics and telecommunication companies like Intel Corp. and Verizon Communications Inc., as well as librarian groups and consumer advocates. They say it would stifle technological innovation and could prevent people from playing legal music or films over their home networks.

The groups have lobbied for a narrow treaty protecting only the signal itself from piracy."

emily | 9:58 PM | Copypright Issues |
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