Happy Birthday To You, Copyrighted 04/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Prof. Owen Dean writes: Warner/Chappel Music, a music publishing company in the United States of America, claims and exerts copyright in the ubiquitous song “Happy Birthday to You”. It requires that royalty payments should be made to it each and every time this song is sung or used in public. This is a startling proposition as most people probably assume that the song is in the public domain and is free for use by all. An American documentary film maker agrees and is objecting to having to pay royalties to include the song in a film. It has consequently commenced legal proceedings before the US court seeking a declaration that the song is out of copyright and in the public domain. These court proceeding are currently attracting attention world-wide due to their somewhat bizarre nature. Meanwhile, under a bill in South Africa, celebrants of birthdays who do not obtain the necessary licence for singing “Happy Birthday” may in future bring the full wrath of the law down upon themselves through their unlawful conduct. Moreover, this situation could prevail in perpetuity.
ECOSOC Panel: Science, Technology, Innovation Essential For Universal Health Coverage 04/07/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) panel discussion on universal health coverage (UHC) on 3 July highlighted the importance of science, technology and innovation for achieving UHC, especially in the context of the post-2015 development agenda. Speakers discussed the meaning and scope of UHC as well as the financing and promotion of UHC in various country contexts.
Crowdfunded Contest: What Should Future Of Copyright Law Look Like? 03/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments The Modern Poland Foundation, a non-profit and access to knowledge advocate, is asking people around the globe to participate in a crowdfunded contest that poses the question: What should a good copyright system look like?
Special Feature: A Look At Product Development Partnerships And Innovation For Neglected Diseases 03/07/2013 by Tiphaine Nunzia Caulier for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An analysis of available information indicates that research-oriented product development partnerships (PDPs) are seen as providing a better approach to neglected diseases than most other public-private partnerships. Yet, in spite of many positive results, PDPs still have a limited impact in developing countries.
Questions Arise Over EU Draft Regulation To Implement Nagoya Protocol 03/07/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Commission has prepared a draft regulation to implement an international protocol to prevent biopiracy, leading two non-governmental organisations to publish an opinion piece voicing concerns about it. The European Parliament is scheduled to review the draft on 4 July. A key concern is whether it would cover non-European genetic resources already in European collections.
Public Interest Groups Ask US Court To Invalidate Stem Cell Patent 03/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A human embryonic stem cell patent held by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) should be invalidated, according to a legal filing made on 2 July by two public interest groups.
Equal Innovation Seen As Critical To Economic Growth, Achievement Of UN MDGs 02/07/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch and Caitlin McGivern for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Slow and uneven economic growth was the main concern echoed by panellists participating in this morning’s high-level policy dialogue at the 2013 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Substantive Session. Representatives from various intergovernmental agencies shared their perspectives on the status of the global economy with respect to innovation and the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
MSF: Prices On Latest ARV Drugs Under Patent Too High 02/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The price of first- and second-line anti-retrovirals (ARVs) have declined due to increased generic competition, while third-line regimens remain “exorbitantly priced,” according to the latest edition of a publication from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
German Parliament Passes Changes To National Copyright Law 02/07/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The German Parliament on 27-28 June passed several changes to German copyright law and introduced limits and a financial cap on how much lawyers can charge for notices against file-sharers.
Global Innovation Index: Most Innovative Keep Top Spots 01/07/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch and Caitlin McGivern for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Innovation is a main focus of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) substantive session taking place in Geneva this week. Today, at the ECOSOC opening session, the 2013 Global Innovation Index (GII) was launched, which ranked Switzerland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States as the top five most innovative countries in the world.