Danger in Dubai – Will the UN Takeover the Internet with Phil Corwin

Phil Corwin, Counsel to the Internet Commerce Association, returns to CLBR to discuss the controversy over the upcoming 2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications organized by the International Telecommunications Union.

WHAT: International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
2012 World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-2012)

WHEN: December 3 – 14, 2012

WHERE: Dubai, UAE

WHAT’S AT ISSUE:From the New York Times:

Several proposals would give the U.N. power to regulate online content for the first time, under the guise of protecting against computer malware or spam. Russia and some Arab countries want to be able to inspect private communications such as email. Russia and Iran propose new rules to measure Internet traffic along national borders and bill the originator of the traffic, as with international phone calls. That would result in new fees to local governments and less access to traffic from U.S. “originating” companies such as Google, Facebook and Apple. A similar idea has the support of European telecommunications companies, even though the Internet’s global packet switching makes national tolls an anachronistic idea.

Another proposal would give the U.N. authority over allocating Internet addresses. It would replace Icann, the self-regulating body that helped ensure the stability of the Internet, under a contract from the U.S. Commerce Department.

The US, EU and many others have voiced opposition to these proposals.

MULTIMEDIA

NEWSY TECH SUMMARY

GOOGLE CAMPAIGN IN RESPONSE

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

ITU BRIEFING

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US MEMO ON WCIT

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CRITIQUE OF LEAKED PROPOSALS

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CDT TALKING POINTS IN OPPOSITION

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WCIT EXPLAINED

Our Guest: Phil Corwin

Philip S. Corwin is a Founding Principal at VirtuaLaw LLC and Counsel for the Internet Commerce Association. Mr. Corwin has more than thirty years of experience in the legal industry. He specialises in bankruptcy, financial services, intellectual property, and electronic commerce law. His clients have included Information Technology Association of America, First Virtual Holdings, PenOp, MP3.com, CenterSpan Communications, Sharman Networks Limited (Kazaa), and the Internet Commerce Association. Mr. Corwin has been a guest on numerous television and radio public affairs and business programs. He has also addressed and debated copyright and other legal issues affecting digital media delivery at law and technology conferences, and has discussed technology-related legislative and regulatory initiatives at such forums as Glasser Legalworks’ E-Commerce Law School and the Practicing Law Institute’s Internet Law Institute, as well as at programs of the American Bar Association and the District of Columbia Bar. Mr. Corwin received his B.A. in Government from Cornell University’s College of Arts and Sciences and his JD from Boston College Law School.