Interview With Gilberto Gil, Brazil’s Culture Minister 27/09/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Gilberto Gil, an internationally acclaimed musician and songwriter since the 1960s, is Brazil’s Minister of Culture. Educated in his native state of Bahia, Gil has lived and travelled extensively abroad and speaks four languages fluently. He reflects the Brazilian government’s position of caution about the rapid rise of intellectual property rights policy and protection globally, […]
Should The Developing World Copy To ‘Catch Up’ With Developed Countries? 26/09/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Naana E. K. Amonoo – LL.B, LL.M (I.P). It is forbidden in the intellectual property world to condone anything to do with copying without the owner’s permission. It is of course understood that the hard work of any IP owner ought to be rewarded and acknowledged. No one is disputing that fact. However, it […]
Annual WIPO Assembly Faces Sensitive Policy, Administrative Issues 25/09/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The top decision-makers of the many organs of the World Intellectual Property Organization gather this week with a long list of important issues before them, ranging from new treaties and new IP policies to greater accountability and ways to prevent wrong-doing in its administration. The agenda for the 25 September to 3 […]
The Nexus Of Cultural Heritage And Intellectual Property 21/09/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Molly Torsen Over the past several decades, scholarship on the nexus between cultural heritage and intellectual property law has alternately garnered keen international attention or remained stagnant. Those jurisdictions that have a greater interest in protecting their heritage – perhaps because of its cultural importance or because of a history of misappropriation – through […]
Luz verde para el tratado de la OMPI sobre radiodifusión pese a desacuerdos 20/09/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por William New El pasado 13 de septiembre un comité clave de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) aprobó una propuesta para negociar un tratado destinado a ampliar los derechos de los organismos de radiodifusión y de difusión por cable, pese a importantes desacuerdos entre los miembros del comité. “El proyecto de propuesta […]
Le projet de traité de l’OMPI sur la radiodiffusion ravive les désaccords passés 20/09/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par William New Le 13 septembre dernier, une proposition visant à négocier un traité pour étendre les droits des organismes de radiodiffusion et de distribution par câble a franchi le cap de l’un des principaux comités de l’Organisation mondiale de la propriété intellectuelle (OMPI) en dépit des désaccords qui persistent au sein même du comité. […]
A Wikipedia Architect Plans A “Better” Open Source Online Encyclopedia 19/09/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New BERLIN – Wikipedia, the popular community-driven online encyclopedia, is doomed to “amateurism” and should be complemented by a more serious effort, says one of the project’s creators who announced plans to launch an alternative. Larry Sanger, chief organiser of Wikipedia in its first year, unveiled his plan at last week’s fourth annual […]
WIPO Broadcasting Treaty Advances Past Disagreements 14/09/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New A proposal to negotiate a treaty to expand the rights of broadcasters and cablecasters cleared a key committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization on 13 September despite outstanding disagreements among committee members. “The draft basic proposal [the document upon which talks will proceed] is full of contradictions,” Surinder Kumar Arora, India’s […]
Egypt Seminar Highlights Copyright Laws’ Impact On Library Access 14/09/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Concern is high over the impact on the global public’s access to knowledge of increasing copyright restrictions on that knowledge. Scientists, academics, publishers and others at a September seminar in Alexandria, Egypt discussed how to ensure proper balance between rights and access. Martin Watson of the Quakers United Nations Office participated in the seminar. Martin […]
Critical Talks Ahead For WIPO Broadcasters’ Treaty 09/09/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New A proposed treaty to strengthen rights for broadcasters faces a critical test next week at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Government negotiators are under pressure to finish preliminary work on a draft treaty before the 25 September annual WIPO assembly, as increasing numbers of private sector stakeholders are digging in their heels […]