‘Mede In China’: US Customs May Bring In Rights-Holders To Help Stop Counterfeiters 09/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) this week said it is considering sharing more information with the intellectual property rights holders about possible counterfeit goods entering the US, in order to improve prevention. But CBP said it is still unclear whether changes in the law will be required to allow it to do this.
What We Know – And What We Don’t – About Counterfeit Goods And Small Parcels 08/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Kasie Brill writes: Cross-border e-commerce is growing exponentially. Consumers can purchase products from all over the world and have them delivered straight to their doors with just the click of a button. In fact, the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) international small parcel business increased 232% from 2013 to 2017, when it received nearly half a billion packages. Out of those half a billion packages, USPS only had critical safety information on 36% of them. In other words, millions of packages reached American consumers with little or no security screening at all. Though most of these packages contained exactly what the customer ordered, counterfeiters have discovered that small parcels are an easy means to distribute fake and often dangerous goods.
Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week 2018 Highlights Balance In The Copyright System 08/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The fifth annual Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week took place February 26–March 2, 2018, growing to 153 participating organizations—as well as numerous individuals—celebrating the important and flexible doctrines of fair use and fair dealing worldwide. This year’s event was organized by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and participants included universities, libraries, library associations, and many other organizations, such as Authors Alliance, the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the R Street Institute, and Re:Create. Sixty ARL member institutions contributed a wide range of resources this year. Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week was observed around the globe by participants in such countries as Australia, Canada, Colombia, Greece, and the United States.
Council Of Europe Agrees New Guidelines On Media Pluralism, Transparency Of Media Ownership 07/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Strasbourg, France-based Council of Europe today adopted a recommendation containing a range of guidelines aimed at managing the effects of modern technology on the media sector and media pluralism. The recommendation sets out a comprehensive framework of guidelines for a “pluralist, transparent and participatory” media environment, online and offline.
Council Of Europe Adopts Guidelines On Role Of Internet Intermediaries 07/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Council of Europe today adopted a set of recommendations containing some 60 detailed obligations and suggestions for governments to ensure internet intermediaries, such as search engines and social media, uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms online.
UN Rapporteur For Privacy Rebuffed On Surveillance Oversight Negotiations 07/03/2018 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States, China and the European Union were unanimous yesterday in their rejection of international consultations for a possible legal instrument on government-led surveillance and privacy. During the 19th meeting of the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, they called a possible legal instrument against uncontrolled cross-border surveillance proposed by the UN Special Rapporteur on Privacy, Joseph Cannataci, “unnecessary.” But Cannataci responded that the problems cannot be ignored.
Today – UN Human Rights Council To Hear Rapporteur’s Report On Government Surveillance Online 06/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United Nations Human Rights Council today (6 March) is expected to hear a report on government surveillance to be presented by the UN special rapporteur on the right to privacy. The report calls for the urgent development of a comprehensive legal framework on privacy and surveillance in cyberspace.
USTR Lighthizer To NAFTA Partners: Step Up Pace Or Lose Window Of Opportunity 06/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer warned his Mexican and Canadian counterparts today (5 March) that if they don’t quickly pick up the pace of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations, they will face “headwinds” from elections in all three countries. And if they can’t progress, the US is prepared to proceed bilaterally.
Tough Talk On Transatlantic Privacy, Once Again 05/03/2018 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová, ahead of her US visit announced “a tough tone” on remaining gaps in the implementation of the privacy shield, the arrangement that allows to transfers of data of EU citizens to the United States. Speaking before the EU Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE), Jourová said while she had heard the privacy shield was not a priority of the US administration, “it will be a priority, if we make clear that we will suspend the system if it doesn’t work,” adding, “My patience is coming to an end.”
Protecting And Promoting Copyright Balance In NAFTA 04/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The ongoing NAFTA renegotiation presents a prime opportunity to move the ball on protecting and promoting general public interest copyright exceptions. All three countries have such exceptions to varying degree. And all three are under threat from an agenda to cabin their use through international law. NAFTA negotiators can and should include the best models from prior international agreements that protect and promote the ability of countries to have general exceptions, writes Professor Sean Flynn.