Hard Times Ahead For Rights Holders? IPR High On Brussels Agenda Before Recess 13/07/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments At a little-publicised annual meeting of the Transatlantic Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Working Group in Brussels this week representatives of the European Commission, several United States agencies and rights holder agreed that there might be tough times ahead for IPRs and rights holders. Meanwhile, the Commission is under pressure on copyright exceptions for visually impaired readers on the eve of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting. And the Commission this week introduced new rules on collective societies aimed at easing user access to content.
WIPO Governments Push On New Folklore Treaty Text; Indigenous Peoples Disappointed 13/07/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments After a late start, delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization today are trying to make up for lost time in an attempt to draft a potential treaty text to protect traditional cultural expressions on the last day of a weeklong meeting. The first revision of draft articles was issued yesterday at the end of the afternoon. The status of Indigenous Peoples was also examined by delegates the day before without much interest.
Special Report: Russia Amends IP Law In Advance Of WTO Accession 12/07/2012 by Daria Kim for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments By September of this year, Russia is expected to become the 154th member of the World Trade Organization – 19 years after the accession application was received and the Working Party on the Accession of the Russian Federation established in June 1993. In advance of the accession, the Russian intellectual property rights law is being amended to meet the WTO accession requirements.
EU Parliament ACTA Rejection Last Nail In ACTA Coffin For Mexico? 10/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The recent rejection of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement by the European Parliament was “fundamental” from the perspective of some negotiating partners, and may have proved fatal for the agreement in Mexico, according to an observer.
Traditional Cultural Expressions Talks Back On Track At WIPO 10/07/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization today finally adopted the agenda of the 22nd session of the Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), and started work. But not before being sharply reminded of their duty in representing the public.
EU Announces €11B R&D Programme For 2013 10/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Commission yesterday announced its largest research budget ever, allocating €10.8 billion towards innovative research aimed at generating job growth for 2013. It issued a call for proposals that includes €1.5 billion targeted toward information and communications technologies.
WIPO Folklore Committee Stuck In Starting Blocks; Indigenous Peoples Wave UN Declaration 09/07/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments On opening day of weeklong meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on the protection of folklore, what was characterised as a procedural matter by the chair kept delegates in informal consultations most of the day without reaching a compromise on the agenda. And at the outset, a panel of Indigenous Peoples reminded delegates of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and called for considerations of the Declaration during this week’s negotiations.
UN Human Rights Council Tackles IPRs, Benefits Of Scientific Progress 09/07/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The United Nations Human Rights Council last week adopted a resolution promoting cultural rights and diversity, with a commitment to hold a seminar next year on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications. The resolution includes continuing support for a special observer on the issue who recently submitted a report raising questions about the impact of intellectual property rights on the diffusion of knowledge.
WIPO Committee Makes Last Run At Folklore Treaty Text Before Annual Assembly 06/07/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The last session of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on the protection of folklore before the annual General Assembly promises to be lively as the prospect of a potential treaty exacerbates stronghold positions. The treaty fervently supported by developing countries as a way to protect their cultural heritage and biodiversity has met a more cautious view from developed countries.
New UN Human Rights Council Resolution On Internet Rights 05/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a new resolution on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the internet. The resolution ties such rights to development, and is said to be the first UN resolution to put online human rights on par with those offline.