Digitisation Projects For Orphan And Out-Of-Commerce Works Presented At WIPO 06/05/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch and Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Digitisation of copyrighted works is in growing demand, and books are increasingly being made widely available in digital form. Two forms of works however – orphan and out-of-commerce works – are in danger of missing out, said speakers at a recent World Intellectual Property Organization event, and there is a risk of forever losing an important part of our cultural heritage embedded in these works. Another panel, meanwhile, illustrated that laws on copyright and licensing also present obstacles to cross-border use of digitised works by universities, libraries and archives.
Librarians, Archivists: Why An International Solution Is Needed For Copyright Exceptions 06/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Last week, the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee ended without agreement on the conclusions of the meeting or its future work, to the dismay of librarians and archivists associations. During the week, numerous representatives of these communities gave vigorous accounts of why a treaty is vital to grant them exceptions to copyright.
A Brief Overview Of Current IP Issues At The WTO 05/05/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property issues may not be at the top of the post-Bali negotiations at the World Trade Organization, but there are many IP-related issues going on at the WTO. Below is an overview of some current and possible IP-related issues at the WTO.
Panel Looks At Ethical Implications Of Big Data In Health 05/05/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The potential for big data to yield better outcomes in all aspects of health is tremendous, and tapping into it has only just begun, said speakers at a recent panel in Geneva.
UPOV Publishes List Of FAQs As Part Of Communications Strategy 05/05/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), an enigma organisation to some, has published a list of answers to frequently asked questions on its website.
Hopes Dampened For Copyright Exceptions For Libraries/Archives At WIPO 05/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 18 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization delegates sitting on the copyright committee had to declare defeat late into the night yesterday as they could not agree on the conclusions of the meeting or its future work. The efforts by developing countries to craft a treaty providing copyright exceptions for libraries and archives met with stonewalled resistance by some developed countries, in particular the European Union.
WIPO Members Favour Library Exceptions, But By Different Means 02/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee this week has sunk its teeth into the issue of exceptions and limitations to copyright for libraries and archives. Some countries are pushing for a treaty to establish such exceptions while others find that the existing copyright system provides for it.
Ten Answers From NETmundial 01/05/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In a previous Inside Views article, 10 questions were raised with the hope that they would be answered in the “Global Multisectoral Meeting on the Future of Internet Governance,” also known as NETmundial. After the meeting, the author, Juan Fernández, looks at the answers.
UNCTAD Review Of Bangladesh Calls For Drug Market Opening 01/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An investment policy review undertaken by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) found that Bangladesh needs to attract foreign direct investment to sustain its development and suggests that the country loosen its grip on the pharmaceutical sector. Bangladesh said the review will be carefully considered.
Soft Law Presented At WIPO As A Solution In International Copyright Law 01/05/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A presentation of the Tunis Model Law this week at a World Intellectual Property Organization side event addressed how it could be updated and used as a tool to help developing countries implement new developments in international copyright-related law.