WTO Committee Agrees To Keep IP From Non-Violation Complaints Until 2017 23/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Today, the World Trade Organisation intellectual property committee agreed on a recommendation to extend until 2017 a moratorium shielding intellectual property from a mechanism through which one WTO member can go after another member even in the absence of WTO rules infringement.
Nigeria Prepares To Revamp Its Copyright System For The Digital Age 22/11/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Draft rules updating Nigeria’s copyright law regime are expected to be submitted to Parliament in 2016, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) Regulatory Department Head Michael Akpan has said. While the provisions have already been thoroughly vetted by stakeholders during consultations, several are likely to be challenged, he told Intellectual Property Watch. [Updated]
ECJ: Topographic Maps, Geographical Information And The Interpretation Of “Independent Material” 20/11/2015 by Marie Barani for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Court of Justice of the European Union gave a preliminary ruling on 29 October related to the definition of a “database,” more especially of the “independent material” constituting a database.
Romanian Parliament Eyes National Scientific Works Register To Combat IP Violations 20/11/2015 by Jaroslaw Adamowski for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Romanian members of Parliament have submitted a draft bill to establish a national scientific works register to combat intellectual property violations and plagiarism. These are to include theses, dissertations, articles, papers and reports. The draft, prepared by MPs from all the parties present in the Parliament, says the register is to comprise all scientific works prepared by and defended at higher education institutions which receive public funds, including private institutions which obtain some forms of funding from the state budget.
Review Of WIPO Development Agenda Recommendations Ongoing 18/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments An independent review of how the World Intellectual Property Organization is implementing the recommendations of its Development Agenda is ongoing. A survey is expected to be sent soon to WIPO members as well as international organisations and nongovernmental organisations participating in the WIPO Committee on Development and IP (CDIP).
Life After WIPO: New Nigerian Foreign Minister Onyeama Puts Experience To Use 17/11/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Former World Intellectual Property Organization Deputy Director General Geoffrey Onyeama has been named the new minister of foreign affairs of Nigeria. And according to Nigerian press reports, he plans to use IP and innovation to help Nigeria’s economy, and plans to support the new government’s high-profile efforts against corruption.
Fake EFF Website Was Malicious, WIPO Panel Rules 17/11/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A cybersquatter based in Indonesia who created a website falsely using the Electronic Frontier Foundation name but offering malware did so in bad faith and with malicious intent, a World Intellectual Property Organization panellist has found.
WTO Discussions On Non-Violation Complaints Might Be Near Consensus, Sources Say 17/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Last month, the World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property was suspended over two contentious items. One item left open is the proposed extension of a moratorium which leaves intellectual property outside of a mechanism through which one WTO member can go after another despite no violation of a WTO agreement. According to sources, a solution might be within reach.
Publishers Not Entitled To Compensation Under Reprography Exception, EU High Court Rules 17/11/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European reproduction schemes for compensating authors don’t cover publishers, the European Court of Justice said in a 12 November judgment in Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL v. Reprobel SCRL and Epson Europe BV.
WHO Member State Mechanism On Fake Medicines Meeting This Week 17/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This week the World Health Organization member state mechanism on falsified medicines is meeting in Geneva with a long agenda. In particular, the meeting is expected to consider a process for the mechanism review, the participation of the WHO in a global committee on the quality of health products, and several proposals including tracking systems and awareness campaigns.