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Books

A Copyright Masquerade by Monica Horten cover Entertainment Law Review: "[Horten's} methodology in analysing the policy-making process is thorough, has the benefit of hindsight and is buttressed by freedom of information requests. It tells a tale that needs to be heard. Anyone interested in the future of copyright law in the European Union and the role lobbyists and corporations play in shaping legislation should read this timely and provocative book."

Electronic Frontier Foundation: "A Copyright Masquerade can verge on academic, but it remains engaging. At times, the legislative history (and the scandal involved) even has elements of intrigue. But most importantly, it's extremely informative and demystifying, right from the first page's handy table of common acronyms. For those interested in the structures that influence copyright policy around the world, Horten's book will prove a valuable resource."

Media and Arts Law Review Although A Copyright Masqerade is euro-centric in its focus, similar dynamics are evident in other parts of the world, not in the least the current proposals in Australia regarding online copyright infringement and the close relationship the Commonwealth Government seems to enjoy with certain large rights holders. Furthermore, the concept of policy laundering copyright provisions through international trade treaties has made a resurgence with the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreements currently under negotiation. All of this makes Horten's study of great relevance to these contemporary processes in both Europe and Australia,

Society for Computers and the Law magazine (SCL law): "Monica Horten has made a wonderful attempt to wash away some of the ignorance surrounding copyright and 'freedoms'. [...] I do recommend it heartily. It should foster further debate - and make it easier for the next major policy debate to be conducted more transparently."

ZDNet: "these cases show a great deal about how modern lobbying works in any field. Today's lobbyists don't settle for rolling up to legislators' offices and making their case. No: they draft entire pieces of legislation. They policy-launder, persuading multiple countries to pass the same provisions [...] None of this is democracy as we would wish it to be carried out. Horten's work is, accordingly, important: it explains why the evidence and the popular vote can all line up, and yet not be reflected in the law that finally passes."

Futurezone.at: "Die britische Wissenschaftlerin Monica Horten, [...] spürt in ihrem vor kurzem erschienen Buch "A Copyright Masquerade" den Machenschaften der Unterhaltungsindustrienach und zeigt auf, wie demokratische Prozesse durch die Taktiken der Industrielobbyisten unterwandert werden."

(Read on for more reviews)

Read more: A Copyright Masquerade: How Corporate Lobbying Threatens Online Freedoms

The Copyright Enforcement Enigma was launched in the European Parliament on 20 March 2012. I was delighted to have the two Telecoms Package rapporteurs, Catherine Trautmann and Malcolm Harbour both speak at the event. I was also very pleased that the University of Westminster, where I carried out my PhD research on which the book is based, supported the event, and I would like to thank Christian Engström for hosting it.

It was an opportunity to reflect on political events regarding Internet policy. A common theme of all the speakers was the emergence of the citizens' agenda in respect of Internet and communications policy, and the importance of engaging people in the political process. Catherine Trautmann provided us with some interesting observations on the Telecoms Package and Internet freedoms, which is one of the themes addressed in the book:

Read more: European Parliament launch for Copyright Enforcement Enigma

Ask your library to get it! Order direct from the publisher. Go to Amazon UK

For other Amazon stores and alternative international online bookstores, see the right-hand sidebar.

The Copyright Enforcement Enigma: Internet Politics and the 'Telecoms Package'

by Monica Horten

'...a must read for those interested in knowing in depth about copyright enforcement and Internet.' -Journal of Intellectual Property Rights.

'an accurate and absorbing account of the story of the Telecoms Package' -Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology

'This excellent work of scholarship chronicles one of the most important battles over Internet governance ever fought: the attempt by copyright interests to use European Telecommunications law to conscript network operators into enforcing their rights. Dr Horten navigates through the complex proceedings without losing sight of the larger issues.'
- Milton L. Mueller, Professor, Syracuse University School of Information Studies Internet Governance Project, USA

(Click on the title anywhere to go to Amazon. Scroll down to read the reviews).

If you've enjoyed iptegrity.com, I hope you will also like my book. It has a different style, and it does a different job. In the book, you get an intricately-researched account of

Read more: The Copyright Enforcement Enigma

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About Iptegrity

Iptegrity.com is the website of Dr Monica Horten. I am an  independent policy advisor: online safety, technology and human rights. In April 2024, I was appointed as an independent expert on the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on online safety and empowerment of content creators and users. I am a published author, and post-doctoral scholar. I hold a PhD from the University of Westminster, and a DipM from the Chartered Institute of Marketing. I cover the UK and EU. I'm a former tech journalist, and an experienced panelist and Chair. My media credits include the BBC, iNews, Times, Guardian and Politico.

Iptegrity.com is made available free of charge for non-commercial use. Please link back and attribute Dr Monica Horten.  Contact me to use any of my content for commercial purposes.  

The politics of copyright

A Copyright Masquerade - How corporate lobbying threatens online freedoms

'timely and provocative' Entertainment Law Review