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WSIS-II/PC-3/DOC/5-E
that allocation policies for IP addresses should ensure balanced access to
resources on a geographical basis.
23.
Intellectual property rights (IPR)
Application of intellectual property rights to cyberspace.
• While there is agreement on the need for balance between the rights of
holders and the rights of users, there are different views on the precise
nature of the balance that will be most beneficial to all stakeholders, and
whether the current IPR system is adequate to address the new issues posed
by cyberspace. On the one hand, intellectual property rights holders are
concerned about the high number of infringements, such as digital piracy,
and the technologies developed to circumvent protective measures to
prevent such infringements; on the other hand, users are concerned about
market oligopolies, the impediments to access and use of digital content and
the perceived unbalanced nature of current IPR rules.
24.
Freedom of expression
Restrictions on freedom of expression.
• Measures taken in relation to the Internet on grounds of security or to fight
crime can lead to violations of the provisions for freedom of expression as
contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the WSIS
Declaration of Principles.
25.
Data protection and privacy rights
Lack of existence or inconsistent application of privacy and data-protection
rights.
• There is a lack of national legislation and enforceable global standards for
privacy and data-protection rights over the Internet; as a result, users have
few if any means to enforce their privacy and personal data-protection
rights, even when recognized by legislation. An example of this is the
apparent lack of personal data protection in some of the WHOIS
9
databases.
26.
Consumer rights
• There is a lack of global standards for consumer rights over the Internet, for
example in the international purchase of goods through e-commerce; as
such, users have few if any means to enforce their rights, even when these
rights are recognized by legislation. In the case of digital goods and online
services, there are problems for the practical and full application of
traditional consumer rights.
27.
Multilingualism
• Insufficient progress has been made towards multilingualization.
Unresolved issues include standards for multilingual TLDs, e-mail addresses
and keyword lookup, as well as insufficient multilingual local content.
There is a lack of international coordination.
28.
The WGIG identified a number of other important issues, such as
convergence and “next generation networks” (NGNs), as well as trade and e-
commerce, without however focusing on them in any detail.
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9
A database that is widely used to provide information services to Internet users (see glossary).
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