The TRIPS Agreement Protection of intellectual property plays an important role in the international economic sphere. Developed countries, as producers of goods and services, have an incentive to implement strong and effective intellectual property laws. However, developing countries have traditionally thought that strong intellectual property laws would impede their economic development and as a consequence have historically sought lower level of intellectual property protection. The concept of international protection of copyright is first developed through the Berne Convention of 1886. Later on, the Berne Convention was revised several times. The Berne Convention and its revisions became the basis for World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), created in 1967 as a specialized agency of the United Nations. WIPO serves as a forum for negotiation with no effective measures to enforce protection. WIPO continues to exist today but it is teethless and international copyright protection now stems from the World Trade Organization (WTO). Radically, copyright protection changed with the creation of the WTO and its Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). TRIPS set minimum international standards for copyright protection that can be enforced through trade sanctions.

What Is a Copyright - And What Isn't? What is a copyright -- and what isn't? This question is often obscured by myth and misunderstanding. In this article, we break down a few copyright basics so that you can better understand a copyright's role in the intellectual property protection, how a copyright registration can benefit you, and your rights as a copyright holder.

Copyrighting Music: FAQ Copyrighting music is an important step in a musician's career. With this FAQ, I answer some of the most common questions about copyrighting music that I've received and clarify some of the confusion surrounding the procedure.

Legal Tips About Writing Terms and Conditions For Websites Writing terms and conditions for websites can be a tedious task unless you are well aware of legal terminology and working. Terms and conditions are also known as the terms of contract between you and your customer that keeps both of you bound to some agreement. These agreements are very important to protect your rights, limit your liabilities and they also provide security to both the buyer and the seller.

Illegally Downloading Movies - You Do the Crime, You Do the Time There is no other way to put it; illegally downloading movies is wrong. Why risk the wrath of the law when there are places that you can now download films legally? In terms of downloading movies illegally from the Internet the risk of prosecution and hidden viruses is so high it makes you wonder just why so many people are willing to take the risk.

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The Heartbreak of Elder Abuse Continues I will continue to be amazed at the ludicrous actions of those in charge of protecting our citizens. This is the third installment of the blatant elder abuse case that my friend's mother, Dorothy, is a victim of. Even the latest conference proved to be more of the same--stalling, ignoring law and much more.

Is My Brother Misusing Money Belonging To Our Elderly Grandmother? Financial abuse of senior citizens is an enormous problem in our society. This is an example situation where there is suspicion regarding the handling of an elderly grandmother's finances through a power of attorney agreement.

A Heartbreaking Story of Elder Care and Guardian Abuse My last posted article took me far away from my comfort zone. In "A Heartbreaking Story of Elder Abuse" I outlined the plight of my friend's fight for her mother's rights to be restored. Whether you believe in the ability of mediums and psychics or not, that is generally what my efforts are put into. As my friend, Diane, continues to put up a noble effort to overcome court decisions that have consistently denied her of her rights, as well as violated her mother, Dorothy's rights, it became evident that "someone" wanted me to take on a more active role in bringing this situation to light.

Proper Estate Planning to Avoid Lawsuits and Complications Estate planning is important. As a lesson to plan well and plan early, let's look at the Estate of James Brown. James Brown died in 2006, leaving almost $100 million in trust to needy children.

Nursing Homes and For-Profit Hospices: Potential Partners in Crime This article examines potential fraud and abuse at the intersect of nursing home and hospice care, including warnings by the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General. The author also provides suggestions for patients and their families to follow to avoid being victimized by unscrupulous corporations as well as avenues for potential whistleblowers who wish to report healthcare fraud.