For over a year, the organization I3C (Internet Créatif, Coopératif et Citoyen - Creative, Cooperative and Community Internet) has been involved in the preparation of the World Summit on the Information Society. The first major preliminary event will take place in Geneva in December 2003. Meetings have already been held over the course of the year, inviting actors and specialists to reflection the world of community Internet and the challenges it faces.

I3C wants to ensure that this round of meetings does not neglect certain facets of the Information Society. In this regard, I3C is organizing a meeting on 11 October called “Intellectual property invites itself to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).” The goal is to discuss subjects that have garnered little or no attention during the official preparation of the summit, since some governments consider this topic as pertaining more to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).

However the matter of intellectual property raises questions that lie at the heart of the “Information Society” which, by definition, lends increasing importance to the immaterial.
The meeting on 11 October will be the opportunity for those involved, in association with other actors active in preparing the summit, to summarise the work done during the year and to engage in a constructive debate with politicians who are faced with these challenges.

Round tables and work groups will be organized that will debate such issues as community practices, free licences, patentability, the shrinking public domain and all other topics that we feel are crucial and which warrant greater public awareness and debate beyond a small circle of specialists.

”Intellectual property invites itself to the World Summit on the Information Society”

 http://www.i3c-asso.org/11octobre.html
11 October 2003, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Maison des Métallos, 94 rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud, 75011 Paris;
Metro: Couronnes (line 2)
Entrance free:  http://www.i3c-asso.org/inscription.php3