WIPO hit by Little Mermaid
12.Dec.03 - WE SEIZE! activists project Negativland video on World Information Property Organization
This week in Geneva, Swizerland, media activists have gathered to provide a counter "summit" to the WSIS: the World Summit on the Information Society, which is being hosted by the International Telecommunications Union and the UN. WSIS? WE SEIZE! has brought together several hundred media makers who have built a polimedia lab, a streaming High Noon internet post and a series of conferences. Their first lab space was raided and shut down on Tuesday by Swiss police, but working with a representative of the green party, they were able to negotiate an well equipped new space at a former discotheque.
Tonight the group gathered at the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) building to project a short tape from Negativland which spoofs copyright by having the Little Mermaid speak about the imporatance of private property.
The police initially tried to stop the screening, but were persuaded to go easy when presented with an invitation to the screening, printed (unbeknownst to the police) by the group, which looked like a formal and official invitation from WSIS, inviting people to a reception and screening at the WIPO. Several delegates in suits also showed up, having received the invitation at the summit meetings, where it was widely distributed.
After the police had called the headquarters, and with the assistance of a green party official, the screening was instantly "authorized" and the crowd cheered as the Disney images were seen against the windows of the building. in the movie 'Little Mermaid' keeps saying : "It's all mine. I own it and I control it. If you don't accept, I'll sue you. You can't use it for anything without my permission. If you do it, I'll challenge you in court."
A good time was had by all, including a WIPO employee who passed around chocolates to several of the activists.
the WIPO
The WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) is an international institution that harmonizes intellectual property laws on a US based model that gives corporations full right to decide on intellectual property. Copyright and patents on pharmaceutical products & software are practical examples of intellectual property rights.
The WIPO harmonization model:
? doesn't recognize knowledge as a common good
? doesn't see information as a cultural expression but as a commercial product
? doesn't recognize indigenous knowledge that is sold
? endangers the lives of millions of people while patenting life saving drugs
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