Pakistani Blogger Threatened for Embedding a YouTube Video: ProPakistani

Pakistani Blogger Threatened for Embedding a YouTube Video
Startup Weekend coming to Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan’s Imports of IT Services Up 18.5% in Jul-Nov 2011

Pakistani Blogger Threatened for Embedding a YouTube Video

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:55 AM PST

Hamad Dar, a prominent Pakistani blogger, who writes on local Music industry at KoolMuzone, has been receiving threats from EMI Pakistan for embedding a YouTube video on his blog, which is owned by EMI Pakistan.

It appears that EMI Pakistan and KoolMuzone have long been in dispute, which Hamad thoroughly explained in his post, however, their latest row appeared after Koolmuzone embedded a YouTube video in one of their posts.

EMI Pakistan asked KoolMuzone to remove the embedded YouTube video from blog as its rights were protected by EMI Pakistan to which KoolMuzone denied.

Here's the communication that happened between both the parties:

KoolMuzone: "I can't embed a YouTube video uploaded by EMI. Is that what you're telling me?"

EMI Pakistan: "You are not well aware of copyrights laws and constantly violating them at least in EMI case! Enough has been told you and but no point fine!".

I had to call EMI Pakistan to know their viewpoint and they believe that this video used by KoolMuzone is owned/copyrighted by EMI Pakistan. They don't want KoolMuzone to use this video in whatever possible way.

EMI said that they didn't threaten KoolMuzone, instead they wanted a resolution of the dispute, but KoolMuzone (according to EMI) isn't in mood of removing the video.

When I mentioned EMI about YouTube's TOS, as it allows publishers to embed a YouTube video if original owner has not disabled external embedding option, EMI Pakistan said that any product (be it a video, audio, YouTube channel or whatever) being a property of EMI Pakistan should not be used by anyone unless consented.

Apparently EMI Pakistan is unable to understand that there is no legal way of prohibiting anyone to use/reproduce content shared on a public forum, such as YouTube.

Here are YouTube TOS on this:

"You also hereby grant each user of the Service a non-exclusive license to access your Content through the Service, and to use, reproduce, distribute, display and perform such Content as permitted through the functionality of the Service and under these Terms of Service."

It merits mentioning here that I advised EMI Pakistan to disable external embedding of their YouTube videos, but they can't. As they want to allow certain blogs/publishers to use their videos and to disallow others, especially KoolMuzone.

As per legal experts' understanding what EMI is asking from KoolMuzone is based on ethical grounds, and can't be challenged under the law. They said that EMI has a right to have different opinion on this but threatening a blogger on such grounds is purely illogical and can stretch the dispute.

This also reminds us of insufficient or no bloggers' rights and dire need of a body that could protect bloggers from such threats.

Startup Weekend coming to Lahore, Pakistan

Posted: 25 Dec 2011 09:50 PM PST

If you have a good business idea surged by innovation and technology and if you can make a compelling sale pitch in front of an audience then be ready for the "Start-Up Weekend" coming to Lahore University of Management and Sciences in February-2012.

WHAT IS STARTUP WEEKEND?

Startup Weekends are weekend-long, hands-on experiences where entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs can find out if their startup ideas are viable. On average, half of Startup Weekend's attendees have technical backgrounds, the other half have business backgrounds.

HISTORY

Startup Weekend was founded by Andrew Hyde in July of 2007 in Boulder, Colorado. The first weekend had 78 people attend and launched a random idea into a worldwide movement.

In the first two years, over 80 Startup Weekends took place from San Francisco to Athens, Greece and now it is happening in Pakistan. To date startup weekend has conducted 381 events and plans another 190 in the coming months, it has helped create over 4,000 startups and has facilitated over 40,000 entrepreneurs in expressing their ideas and thoughts.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

A 54 hour long experience beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, attendees bring their best ideas and inspire others to join their team. Over Saturday and Sunday teams focus on customer development, validating their ideas, practicing LEAN Startup Methodologies and building a minimal viable product.

In order to facilitate the process of conversion of an idea into a real product companies like Google, Microsoft and Twilio provide powerful technological tools that facilitate teams in the conversion process. On Sunday evening teams demo their prototypes and receive valuable feedback from a panel of experts.

STARTUP WEEKEND PAKISTAN

Held in Institute of Business Administration (IBA) – Karachi in October-2011 for the first time, Startup weekend brought together a small audience and a group of wannabe entrepreneurs who then had a chance to present their ideas. The idea was to mash up people with Technology background with people who had Business background and then give them access to some of the best mentors available who could help them polish their ideas.

Majority of today's new startups are backed by a sound idea that runs on technology therefore the program gives entrepreneurs (Business Graduates) the chance to visualize and convert their ideas into actual startups with the help of Technology Graduates who have the expertise in making technology viable for business.

Startup Weekend Lahore – LUMS would focus on building an ICT (web or mobile) application which could form the basis of a credible business over the course of a weekend. The weekend would bring together people with different skill sets – primarily software developers, graphics designers and business people – to build applications and develop a commercial case around them.

Startup Weekend – Lahore would be facilitated by Google, Microsoft Bizpark, Amazon Web services, Twilio, Startup Labs, oDesk, Open Tok. A list of mentors is not available as of now but its certain that LUMS will be inviting some of the best from the industry for this event.

Startup Weekend is not a "walk away with cash" event, in fact all it does is that it lets an entrepreneur test his/her business idea and see if the idea is workable in the real world. It helps entrepreneurs network with other like minded people who can become future possible business partners.

It helps an idea standout in front of Venture Capitalists and Venture Capital firms. In short Startup Weekend is a whole lot of opportunity for those who have a good idea and have the passion to convert that idea into reality. Events like these are essential for an economy like Pakistan which needs to grow and has sufficient roots embedded in technology.

Update:

The event is being brought to Lahore University of Management and Sciences – LUMS by Confiz a company which specializes in providing Web, Mobile and Technology based solution. Its top management constitutes of Mr. Muhammad Raza Saeed (CEO) , Syed Ali (CTO) and Zartash Afzal Uzmi (Director) all of who have educational backgrounds in computer Sciences.

Mr. Zartash Afzal Uzmi has a Phd in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and Mr, Syed Ali has a master's degree in Computer Science from University of Illinois.

Pakistan’s Imports of IT Services Up 18.5% in Jul-Nov 2011

Posted: 25 Dec 2011 09:42 PM PST

Pakistan's imports of Information Technology (IT) and IT enabled service (ITES) have witnessed growth of 18.5 percent in first five months of the current fiscal year 2011-12, showing a healthy expansion of business operations of multinational companies.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) statistics said that imports of IT and IT-enabled services were increased to $64 million in Jul-Nov compared with $54 million of previous year's same period.

The growth of imports of IT and allied services depicted the increasing penetration of multinational solutions and applications providers in domestic companies in different sectors.

The numbers also showed the technology enablement trend of local companies particularly IT applications and solutions in their different sized businesses through foreign companies.

Some of the renowned companies are SAP, Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, TRG etc., being engaged to provide multiple advanced applications and tailored solutions to tens of companies in sectors including telecom, banking, media, textile, energy and insurance industries.

Industry experts said these IT companies install and develop software as per needs of the businesses for increasing the efficiency, volume of operations and energy saving in manufacturing and services sectors.

They added that the popular applications trends are Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), cloud computing etc.,

Besides rising business volume in Pakistan, the foreign IT companies are providing employments and trainings to local workforce in good numbers, which are also productive for overall IT industry of the country.

These companies actually transfer technology in Pakistan's industries so that they are being capable to meet the international standards and compete their rival players in the global markets.

The technology utility empowers local companies' operations for boosting their productions in short period and containing their cost of doing business and production on the other hand.

world on your screen

Monday, December 26, 2011