Appendix B: Biographies of 2011 contributors

Albania

The Albanian report was prepared by Aleksandra Xhamo. She works with eIFL.net, Electronic Information for Libraries concerning copyright for libraries. EIFL-IP advocate for fair and balanced copyright laws that support libraries in providing access to knowledge. She is the Head of Library near the University of New York in Tirana (UNYT) and is attending the Master of Laws (LLM) program from University of Greenwich UK.

Argentina

Consumidores Argentinos, the association for the defence, education and information of consumers, was created in 1995 with the aim of protecting, informing and educating consumers about their rights. Beatriz Garcia Buitrago of Consumidores Argentinos, who was responsible for the delivery of its country report, is also currently a member of the Executive Council of Consumers International, and of the Steering Group that oversees CI's A2K project.

Australia

The Australian report was prepared by Jeremy Malcolm, CI's Project Coordinator for IP and Communications. Jeremy's background is as an information technology and intellectual property lawyer and IT consultant. He is admitted to the bars of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, High Court of Australia and Appellate Division of New York. Jeremy completed his PhD thesis in Law at Murdoch University in 2008 which was the first doctoral examination of the Internet Governance Forum. Until his most recent appointment Jeremy was the principal of Western Australia's first specialist IT law firm. He currently co-chairs the Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus.

Armenia

The Armenian report was prepared by Sonya Vardanyan and coordinated by Hasmik Galstyan.  Sonya is Head of the Copyright and Related Rights Department, Agency of Intellectual Property, Republic of Armenia, and has participated in elaboration of the statute of the new-established National Copyright agency under the government of Armenia, drafting of the new laws on Copyright and related rights on 1996, 2000 and 2006, elaborated draft of the governmental decree on minimal rates of authors' remuneration for certain types of the use of works in 1999 and 2007, and elaboration of the amendments to be made in the Copyright law in 2011.

Mrs Hasmik Galstyan has over 25 years of working experience in libraries. At present she works at American University of Armenia Papazian Library as Head of Circulation and Reference Department. From 1985-2005 she has worked at the Fundamental Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Armenia at Library Automation and Electronic Service Department as cataloguer, chief specialist. From 2006 she is eIFL-IP coordinator for Armenia, representing ELCA (Electronic Library Consortium of Armenia).

Belarus

Oksana Voronetskaya is the Chief expert in copyright law at the National Library of Belarus.

Brazil

The main objectives of IDEC are: to contribute to a balanced and fair marketplace; to enforce and enhance consumer legislations; to promote consumer welfare, especially access to quality products and services; to improve the standards of sustainable consumption; and more generally to further the goals of democracy by stimulating citizen awareness and participation. Idec tests and evaluates products and services (including public services) and produces ground-breaking research through reports and case studies which findings are disseminated through their monthly magazine Revista do Idec sent to members and subscribers throughout Brazil. IDEC handles about 20,000 complaints from consumers every year - these are mainly about health insurance, the banking sector and telecommunications.

Guilherme Varella who prepared the country report for IDEC is a lawyer, cultural consultant, manager, journalist and musician.

Canada

The report for Canada was prepared by Dr. Michael Geist and Yael Wexler.

Dr Michael Geist is a law professor at the University of Ottawa where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law. He has obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from Cambridge University in the UK and Columbia Law School in New York, and a Doctorate in Law (JSD) from Columbia Law School. Dr. Geist has written numerous academic articles and government reports on the Internet and law and was a member of Canada's National Task Force on Spam. He is an internationally syndicated columnist on technology law issues with his regular column appearing in the Toronto Star, Ottawa Citizen, and the BBC. Dr. Geist is the editor of In the Public Interest: The Future of Canadian Copyright Law, published in 2005 by Irwin Law, the editor of several monthly technology law publications, and the author of a popular blog on Internet and intellectual property law issues. Dr. Geist serves on many boards, including the Canarie Board of Directors, the Canadian Legal Information Institute Board of Directors, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada’s Expert Advisory Board, the Electronic Frontier Foundation Advisory Board, and on the Information Program Sub-Board of the Open Society Institute. He has received numerous awards for his work including the Kroeger Award for Policy Leadership and the Public Knowledge IP3 Award in 2010, the Les Fowlie Award for Intellectual Freedom from the Ontario Library Association in 2009, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Pioneer Award in 2008, Canarie’s IWAY Public Leadership Award for his contribution to the development of the Internet in Canada and he was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2003. In 2010, Managing Intellectual Property named him on the 50 most influential people on intellectual property in the world. More information can be obtained at http://www.michaelgeist.ca.

Yael Wexler is a J. D. Candidate at the University of Ottawa. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from McGill University (Montreal, Quebec). Her research and work focusses on Copyright, Internet and Art law and policy. She has been a research assistant for Dr. Michael Geist and an intern at the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (cippic.ca).

Chile

ONG Derechos Digitales was founded in January 2005. Among its most important objectives is the protection and promotion of fundamental Rights in the Internet, specially focused on privacy and copyright; to strengthen a freer culture, supported by a balanced copyright that allows major access to knowledge for all citizens in the digital environment.

Claudio Ruiz joined NGO Derechos Digitales in the second half of 2004 and today is President of the Corporation. He studied at the School of Law, University of Chile, where he was assistant professor of Constitutional Law and Freedom of Expression course: Legal and ethical dilemmas in comparative view. It was part of the academic staff of the General Education Course Towards a Constitution for Equality in Chile, offered at the same university. He has been assistant professor of the chair Theory of the Constitution and Fundamental Rights at the Faculty of Law at the Universidad Nacional Andrés Bello. He writes regular columns for national and foreign media. He is the Public leader of Creative Commons in Chile.

This year's report as also reviewed by Luis Villarroel, who has a J.D. from the Chile University Law Faculty, and an LL.M. from the Washington College of Law. He currently is the Director of INNOVARTE, a research NGO working internationally on the promotion of balance IP norm setting. Mr. Villarroel is also a Judge at the Industrial Property Appeals Court of Chile, and a researcher at the Law Faculty of the Central University of Chile. Formerly has served as Vice Chair at the WIPO Standing Comitee of Copyright, and Chair of the WIPO WCT Assambly.

China (PRC)

Dr Hong Xue is a Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for the Internet Policy and Law at Beijing Normal University. Prof Xue specializes in intellectual property law, information technology law and the Internet governance. Prof Xue was elected as one of the Ten Nationally Distinguished Young Jurists by the China Law Society. She works in many governmental and non-governmental organisations. She is the only Asian Scholar in the Executive Committee of the International Association for Promotion of the Advanced Teaching and Research of Intellectual Property (ATRIP) and the Editorial Board of World Intellectual Property Journal.

After serving as a founding member of the ICANN At-Large Advisory Committee for four years (2003-2007), she was appointed on the ICANN President's Advisory Committee on Internationalised Domain Names, Nomination Committee and Fellowship Selection Committee. She is one of the founders of the Internet Users Organisation in the Asia-Pacific Region.

Egypt

Dr Bassem Awad is a Chief Judge at the Egyptian Ministry of Justice and Consultant at Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, United Arab Emirates. He also works as Lecturer of IP law at the regional centre of intellectual property, University of Helwan and the postgraduate programs at the Faculty of law, University of Alexandria. Dr Awad holds a PhD in Intellectual Property from the University of Montpellier in France, a Masters degree in IP from the same University and a Masters degree in International Business Law from the University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne. He has prepared several papers on copyright exceptions and limitations; IP and cybercrimes and the role of Patents in today's economy.

Co-authoring the report with Perihan Abou Zeid who is an attorney at law, a senior lecturer at the faculty of Legal Studies and International Relations of Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt, a post doctorate researcher at the Institute of Economic Law and Governance at the faculty of law of Vrije University in Brussels, and a part-time lecturer at the English department of the faculty of law at Beny Swaif University. She is a Member in the African Copyrights Access to Knowledge project (ACA2K). She holds a PhD from the University of Beny Swaif – Egypt, and a LLM in international business law from the University of Hull – UK. She is the author of a book titled The Legal Protection of Pharmaceuticals: A Comparative Study on Egypt, E.U, U.S Laws, Monshaet El Maaref, 2008. She is a co-author of the African Copyrights and Access to Knowledge Report: Egypt

France

Marc Rees, né le 13 mai 1970. Juriste de formation (DESS, DEA, obtenus à Aix-en-Provence), Rédacteur en presse écrite depuis 1998, journaliste puis rédacteur en chef du site PCINpact.com. A rédigé de nombreux articles sur les lois DADVSI ("DMCA" français) et Hadopi (riposte graduée, suspension d'accès).

India

The Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore will critically engage with concerns of digital pluralism, public accountability and pedagogic practices, in the field of Internet and Society, with particular emphasis on South-South dialogues and exchange. Through multidisciplinary research, intervention, and collaboration, it seeks to explore, understand, and affect the shape and form of the Internet, and its relationship with the political, cultural, and social milieu of our times.

Pranesh Prakash works as Programme Manager at the Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore. He is a graduate with a degree in Arts and Law from National Law School, Bangalore, with keen interest in the law, economics, and culture of intellectual property rights. He was part of the founding committee of the Indian Journal of Law and Technology, and was part of the editorial board of that journal for two years. He's been a member of NLS's Law and Technology Committee, as well as its Literary and Debating Society, and has represented the university as an adjudicator in parliamentary debating at the international level. He is most interested in interdisciplinary research on IP and property law, freedom of speech, and privacy. He has worked with practising lawyers, civil society organizations, and law firms.

Japan

The Japanese report was prepared by Masaya Koshiba with assistance from Michelle Tan. Dr. Masaya Koshiba has a PhD from Tezukayama University, Nara, Japan. He is a Research Fellow at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and specializes in intellectual property law /software development and law. Professor Michelle Tan lectures in consumer law/policy at Tezukayama University, Nara, Japan.

Lebanon

Consumers Lebanon defends consumer rights in Lebanon since 2000. Thanks to its action, a modern and efficient consumer protection legislation was ratified. Consumers Lebanon is an experienced and successful campaigning organisation: it has campaigned on a wide range of issues including food security, pollution, VAT, pesticides, drinkable water, Lebanon's admission to the WTO and the establishment of a quarterly consumer price index. It also publishes a regular newsletter and runs a hotline where consumers can phone to report a complaint. Consumers Lebanon sits on a number of national committees and has become influential in terms of shaping public opinion. Its presence in the media is almost daily.

The report for Lebanon was prepared by Consumers Lebanon's staff lawyer Mohamad Al Darwish.

Malaysia

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA) is a national non-governmental organisation, which is voluntary, not-for-profit, non-political, and civic oriented. It is the umbrella body for 13 consumer associations in Malaysia. FOMCA links the activities of consumers' associations in Malaysia and works together with the national and international levels towards strengthening consumer protection. FOMCA's main concern is not only value for money but more so, value for people. FOMCA also promotes through the purchasing power of consumers a "need-oriented" development that will ensure socio-economic justice and environmental quality of life for all.

Mohana Priya from Standards Users of Malaysia, a FOMCA member group, was responsible for putting together the 2010 Malaysian report, which was updated for 2011 by Jeremy Malcolm.

Moldova

Mrs Mariana Harjevschi is a Director of the Public Law Library, branch of the Municipal Library “B.P.Hasdeu” since 2001. Since November 2008, she was elected for four years term as a vice President of Library Association having as responsibilities coordinating international relations of the association and fundraising activities.

Also, since 2008, Mariana Harjevschi acts as eIFL IP copyright librarian within eIFL Direct Moldova Consortia, member of eIFL.net dealing with copyright issues for librarians and advocating fair and balanced copyright legislation in Moldova. In March 2008 she represented eIFL.net at WIPO 16th Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights. Besides, she was elected for 4 years term as a member of the Copyright and Legal Matters Committee within International Federation of Library Assocation.

Mariana holds a Bachelor Degree in Library Science and Information Assistance (1999) and a Master's in Journalism and Communication Sciences (2001), both from Moldova State University.

New Zealand

Cherry Gordon compiled the country report for this country, obtaining some expert review from New Zealand's Ministry of Economic Development. Cherry is a New Zealander who currently works as Research Outputs Liaison Officer, at Dixson Library at the University of New England in New South Wales, Australia.

Pakistan

Bytes for All (B4A) was founded in the region at a time when there was a noticeable rise in the popularity of ICT across the region but there was a defintie absence of a regional network that would be in the forefront for lobbying the needs of the concerend professionals and practitioners and their struggle for issues confronting the industry.

B4A Pakistan has been working on issues pertaining to ICT policy advocacy, Internet Governance, Technology and VAW, and digital security for civil rights movement in Pakistan.

For 2011, this report is edited/contributed by Ms. Nighat Dad. Nighat is an IPR lawyer by training and a Diplo Fellow is a human rights activist. She works as Reserach Associate at Bytes for All and champions the cause of civil liberties, womens rights and privacy rights. She helps larger civil rights movement with legal advice and support on different Internet Rights issues.

Romania

The Romanian report was compiled by Bogdan Manolea. He is the Executive Director of Association for Technology and Internet - APTI Romania. Mr. Manolea has a legal background and a vast experience in the Law and IT&C and is interested in digital civil rights (Freedom of expression online, privacy and open copyright). Author of presentations and articles on subject related to IT&C Law in national and international conferences. Owner of the only Romanian web page dedicated to the IT Law - Internet Laws - www.legi-internet.ro where he also regularly blogs about ITC & legal issues. He is also the editor of EDRi-gram, a biweekly newsletter on digital civil rights in Europe.

Serbia

Tatjana Brzulovic Stanisavljevic is a senior librarian employed at Belgrade University Library since 1996. Her qualifications are in Marxism and Socialist Self-Management (1988), a Bachelors Degree in Political Science (1993), and in October 2010 she defended her Masters thesis on "Copyright and exercise reprographic rights" at the Department of Library Science and Informatics of the Faculty of Philology. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the same institution.

Since October 2009 she has been engaged as a lecturer for copyrights within the curriculum for PhD students financed by the Ministry for Science and Technological Science, and at the end of 2008 became a Coordinator for the Copyright and Intellectual Property in the International Association eIFL. She is currently the Head of the Book Acquisition and Cataloguing Sector and President of University library branches and Academic libraries of Belgrade.

Slovenia

Intellectual Property Institute (IPI) is a research, academic and educational institution acting in the field of intellectual property law. Its main focus is on researching challenges imposed on the intellectual property law, especially on the copyright law, in the digital era. In order to introduce new perspectives, essential for the development of a creative and innovative society, into Slovenian mindspace, IPI actively takes part in public discussions and cooperates with Slovenian universities, research institutes, industries, cultural centers and civil society organizations.

South Africa

The South African country report was contributed by Tobias Schönwetter, Pria Chetty and Jenna Cuming. Tobias studied and practised law in Germany and San Francisco, USA, and holds an LLM degree (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa. In February 2009, Tobias submitted his PhD dissertation at UCT on copyright-related issues, with a special focus on copyright exceptions and limitations. He is a member of the UCT IP Research Unit, teaches on copyright law at UCT and supports the law faculty's digital repository 'lawspace'. In addition, he is the legal lead of Creative Commons South Africa and a member of the Commonwealth of Learning's (COL) copyright expert group. He has been awarded with the prestigious UCT Research Fellowship Award for his doctoral studies in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Pria is the Principal of Chetty Law in South Africa, where Jenna also works. Chetty Law has responded to the call for technology law services that address technology governance, compliance and risk management. This is achieved with their standard setting Contracts, Policies, Legal Opinions, White Papers, Guides and Training Events that speak to the technology and innovation legal questions faced by their clients.

South Korea

The earlier 2009 edition of the South Korean country report was prepared by Consumers Korea. Created in 1983, Consumers Korea (CK) is one of the most active consumer organisations in Korea as well as globally. CK strives to create a safer and fairer market for consumers as well as an economy based on the principles of sustainable development and social economic justice. CK enforces consumers' rights and represent their interests through the publication of a magazine, Sobija Reports, based on results from test and research; lobbying; campaigns and the provision of consumer advice.

The updates for 2010 and 2011 were prepared by Heesob Nam and Byoung-il Oh. Heesob is a patent attorney since 1998, who in 2008 received an LLM from the Munich Intellectual Property Law Center. He has chaired Intellectual Property Left and the Korean Civil Society Coalition against KORUS (FTA on Intellectual Property Rights). Until 2007 he was a Partner of Horizon Law Group and Arbitrator for Korean Arbitration Service, Ltd, Internet Address Dispute Resolution Center. Byoung-il is a representative of IPLeft, and an full-time staff of Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet.

Thailand

The Foundation for Consumers (FFC) was established in 1994 as a non-government and non-profit consumer organisation working directly with consumers to do policy and advocacy work. Originally, FFC started as a Coordinating Committee for Primary Health Care to coordinate health groups at the national level (1983). FFC is now the main leading consumer organisation in Thailand. It also helped to set up the Confederation of Consumer Organisations (CCOT), a non-governmental and non-profit network organisation comprised of 17 consumer organisations and groups around the country working on issues related to health, gender, agriculture, labour rights. FFC's consumer magazine called Smart Buyer Magazine is an established bi-monthly magazine with more than 12,000 subscribers. FFC also established a Complaints and Legal Assistance Center in 1994 in conjunction with its magazine. Relevant complaint cases are then relayed to the mass media, in particular through the weekly one hour television programme called Consumers Assembly.

United Kingdom

Consumer Focus was created in October 2008 through the merger of existing consumer bodies: National Consumer Council; Energywatch; and Postwatch. The organisation objectives are: to establish a single strengthened and streamlined consumer advocacy organisation to represent all consumers in Great Britain; to ensure adequate support for vulnerable consumers; and to create a more effective regime for consumer representation in the UK.

Saskia Walzel who prepared the country report for Consumer Focus has a BA in Politics and an MA in International Politics and Human Rights. She is working as Policy Advocate at Consumer Focus since February 2009. Her work focuses on copyright, particularly user rights, proportionate copyright enforcement and copyright licensing. Other work areas include sustainability and regulation. Before joining Consumer Focus she worked two years at Acona as corporate responsibility consultant. Prior to that she worked and volunteered for a range of organisations, including the CORE Coalition which successfully campaigned for the inclusion of social and environmental directors duties in the Companies Act 2006.

United States

The 2009 and 2010 reports for the United States were prepared by EFF, a donor-funded nonprofit organisation devoted to defending digital rights. EFF broke new ground when it was founded in 1990 – well before the Internet was on most people's radar – and continues to confront cutting-edge issues defending free speech, privacy, innovation, and consumer rights today. From the beginning, EFF has championed the public interest in every critical battle affecting digital rights.

The report was updated for 2011 by Jeremy Malcolm.