Controversy flared this week during talks on a treaty to update broadcasting protections for the digital age. Formal negotiations by the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) remain stalled due to COVID-19, but some member countries and observers were “quite shocked” to discover that an informal “friends of the chair” group had met twice this year to work on treaty language, emailed Knowledge Ecology Online Geneva Representative Thiru Balasubramaniam. The group, which had lain dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic, met before the Monday-Thursday partly virtual meeting. In his meeting summary, acting Chair Abdoul Aziz Dieng said he would consider concerns raised about the informal talks.
Controversy flared this week during talks on a treaty to update broadcasting protections for the digital age. Formal negotiations by the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) remain stalled due to COVID-19, but some member countries and observers were “quite shocked” to discover that an informal “friends of the chair” group had met twice this year to work on treaty language, emailed Knowledge Ecology Online Geneva Representative Thiru Balasubramaniam. The group, which had lain dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic, met before the Monday-Thursday partly virtual meeting. In his meeting summary, acting Chair Abdoul Aziz Dieng said he would consider concerns raised about the informal talks.
Industry experts said the 3.45 GHz auction, to start Oct. 5, is likely to be a success, with AT&T and Dish Network in particular seen as keen to pick up more mid-band spectrum. But questions remain about the level of data provided by the government. Upfront payments, the first expression of bidder interest, are due July 21 (see 2106090078). The reserve price for federal agencies to clear the spectrum and for the auction to close is $15 billion.
Controversy flared this week during talks on a treaty to update broadcasting protections for the digital age. Formal negotiations by the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) remain stalled due to COVID-19, but some member countries and observers were “quite shocked” to discover that an informal “friends of the chair” group had met twice this year to work on treaty language, emailed Knowledge Ecology Online Geneva Representative Thiru Balasubramaniam. The group, which had lain dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic, met before the Monday-Thursday partly virtual meeting. In his meeting summary, acting Chair Abdoul Aziz Dieng said he would consider concerns raised about the informal talks.
Industry experts said the 3.45 GHz auction, to start Oct. 5, is likely to be a success, with AT&T and Dish Network in particular seen as keen to pick up more mid-band spectrum. But questions remain about the level of data provided by the government. Upfront payments, the first expression of bidder interest, are due July 21 (see 2106090078). The reserve price for federal agencies to clear the spectrum and for the auction to close is $15 billion.
Industry groups and consumer advocates will watch closely Thursday when the FTC expects to vote on streamlining internal Magnuson-Moss rulemaking procedures. An affirmative vote could set the stage for an agency rulemaking on privacy, a proposal in which Democrat and Republican commissioners have shown interest (see 2102120046).
Industry groups and consumer advocates will watch closely Thursday when the FTC expects to vote on streamlining internal Magnuson-Moss rulemaking procedures. An affirmative vote could set the stage for an agency rulemaking on privacy, a proposal for which Democrat and Republican commissioners have shown interest (see 2102120046).
Industry groups and consumer advocates will watch closely Thursday when the FTC expects to vote on streamlining internal Magnuson-Moss rulemaking procedures. An affirmative vote could set the stage for an agency rulemaking on privacy, a proposal for which Democrat and Republican commissioners have shown interest (see 2102120046).
The Supreme Court refused to hear a local government challenge to the FCC’s 2018 small-cells orders. The court denied certiorari to Portland, Oregon, and other localities in case 20-1354 without explanation, in its Monday order list. Local government attorneys told us they will keep talking about wireless infrastructure concerns at the FCC. Industry applauded SCOTUS not taking the case. Cities argued the case was ripe for SCOTUS review despite the FCC and DOJ saying there wasn’t any reason to take the case (see 2106150079) and 2106030066).
Comments are due July 2 on public interest ramifications of the Trade Act Section 337 import ban MediaTek seeks at the International Trade Commission on NXP integrated circuits used by Arrow Electronics, Avnet, Bosch, Continental and Mouser Electronics, said Thursday's Federal Register. The ICs, used in temperature sensors, entertainment systems and wireless Wi-Fi 6 chipsets, infringe five MediaTek patents on chip design, the oldest dating to 2007, said MediaTek's June 17 complaint (login required). MediaTek seeks a limited exclusion and cease and desist orders against the proposed respondents and their affiliates. None responded to questions Friday. MediaTek’s requested import ban raises no public interest concerns because the accused products serve no "essential public health or welfare objective," said the complaint. MediaTek, Panasonic, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and others "already provide a sufficient supply of nonaccused competitive products" in the U.S., and can fill any market "void" within a "commercially reasonable time," it said.