US Election, Patent Reform Could Decide Fate of Voided USPTO Rules 03/04/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch A United States federal court in Virginia Tuesday voided US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rules capping the number of continuation requests and claims patent seekers can submit without incurring additional costs and paperwork. The decision could spark a renewed agency push on Capitol Hill for rulemaking authority, […]
UK IP Chief: Copyright System A “Constant Conflict” 03/04/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch The copyright system is not a balance but a “constant conflict” whose nature must be continually debated, UK Intellectual Property Office Chief Executive Ian Fletcher said at a recent seminar on the future of copyright. The office is in the throes of a consultation on possible new copyright law exceptions, the most controversial of which is a proposal to allow limited format-shifting.
US Senate Moves Toward Vote On Reform To Patent Regime 18/03/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Legislation for sweeping patent reform in the United States could see Senate floor action as soon as early April. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democrat-Nevada, said the congressional body could consider S 1145 next month but the Senate Judiciary Committee has not been given a firm date, a committee […]
European Commission Seeks Copyright Extension, New Levy Debate 14/02/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch In a flurry of intellectual property-related activity Thursday, the European Commission proposed extending copyright protection for performers from 50 to 95 years, resurrected debate on the contentious issue of copyright levies on blank media, and ranked member states on their innovativeness. At a Brussels press conference, Internal Market […]
US Government, Copyright Industry Continue Push For Stronger Enforcement 13/02/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch The United States is gaining ground in its fight against intellectual property piracy and counterfeiting, a potent interagency commission told President George Bush and the US Congress this week. Yet for every gain in IP enforcement, increasingly complex and unpredictable threats emerge, the agencies said in their 11 […]
European Court: Governments May Require ISPs To Disclose Data On Suspected Pirates 30/01/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch The European Court of Justice (ECJ) avoided a potential upheaval in copyright enforcement by ruling on 29 January that governments can, but are not required to, order Internet service providers (ISPs) to disclose personal data about subscribers suspected of online piracy, according to Hogan & Hartson Paris attorney […]
Patent And Copyright Reform Proposals Lead US IP Issues For 2008 16/01/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch The year 2008 could be a turning point for intellectual property policy and law in the United States, with key patent, copyright and enforcement legislation pending, legal decisions unfolding, and high drama in the battle over content online. All of this comes in the context of a national presidential election late in the year.
Online Content, Patent Reform Are Key For Europe In 2008 07/01/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Copyright issues take centre stage this year as debate intensifies in the European Union over Internet service provider (ISP) responsibility for online piracy. In addition, the proposed European patent litigation system, considered dead last year, has been resurrected, as has the discussion over copyright levies on blank media. […]
US Lawmakers Seek IP Enforcement Agency; Satellite Radio Royalties Set 10/12/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch A bipartisan group of US legislators is calling for tougher civil and criminal penalties for copyright and trademark infringement through new legislation introduced last week. Meanwhile, the US Library of Congress Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) has set royalties for satellite radio services, as webcast radio companies lobbied for rate parity. The “Prioritising Resources and Organisation for Intellectual Property Act of 2007 (PRO IP),” introduced 5 December, would create an IP enforcement czar, establish a new IP division in the Department of Justice, and authorise the appointment of IP officers to help foreign countries combat piracy and counterfeiting.
France To Require Internet Service Providers To Filter Infringing Music 27/11/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch French record labels and Internet service providers (ISPs) have agreed on a ground-breaking plan to fight online music piracy. Among other things, the 23 November memorandum of understanding requires Internet access providers to experiment with filters to block infringing files. Making ISPs shoulder more responsibility for copyright violations on their networks while leaving intact their immunity from liability for content for which they are “mere conduits” represents a sea-change in the interpretation of the European Union E-Commerce Directive, said attorney Winston Maxwell of Hogan & Hartson.