University Of Geneva Internet L@w Summer School In June 04/04/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The University of Geneva is launching an Internet l@w summer school which will take place from June 16 to June 27, 2014. The Internet l@w summer school offers the opportunity to learn and discuss internet law and policies with experts from leading institutions including the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University, the Internet Society, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the World Economic Forum (WEF), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as from other prestigious academic or governmental institutions and global internet companies (eBay and Google). Topics to be covered include privacy and surveillance, free speech, telecom and internet infrastructure, intellectual property, antitrust, choice of court & choice of law, on-line contracts, consumer protection, legal issues of social media and cloud computing. The website of the Internet l@w summer school is: www.internetlaw-geneva.ch Registration deadline: May 15, 2014 (early bird: April 15).
European Parliament Backs Net Neutrality 03/04/2014 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The European Parliament today decided to clearly limit network operators’ possibilities to treat selected services differently for purely economic reasons.
IP Law Europe Summit To Be Held In June 03/04/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment marcus evans is pleased to announce the IP Law Europe Summit taking place 2-3 June 2014 at Le Meridien Beach Plaza Monte Carlo in Monaco. In the era of the global knowledge economy, the subject of IP has become increasingly contentious and publicly debated. Its reach has exploded across virtually every domain: policy, digital media, public health, human rights, and the environment. Meanwhile, never before has information been so easily replicable or technology so convergent. The IP Law Europe Summit is the premium forum bringing together leading in-house IP counsel with international law firms, IP attorneys and legal services providers. The Summit offers regional IP executives an intimate environment for a focused discussion of key new drivers shaping the IP industry. Key topics being discussed will include IP strategy and operations, cost-containment, latest developments in patent legislation in EU and US, technology and innovation, and more. Leading these discussions are senior IP executives from companies like WIPO, Microsoft, Swarovski, and Dolby International. Delegates will include senior executives responsible for IP decision-making in the areas of Patents, Trademark, Copyright, Litigation and/or Legal Affairs. Each participant at the summit will be eligible to earn SRA CPD credits. Between session presentations and networking, in-house IP counsel and service providers engage in pre-scheduled, mutually selected one-on-one business meetings. Over the course of the event, each senior executive representing their service provider company is guaranteed a minimum of 10-12 meetings, each strictly timed to 30 minutes. For more information, visit the online info sheet here: http://www.iplawsummiteurope.com/marketing_434
USTR Froman: ‘We Have Had Over 1,200 Meetings With Congress On TPP’ 03/04/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The United States Trade Representative’s office has held over 1,200 meetings with the US Congress about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, USTR Michael Froman told a congressional committee hearing on the US trade agenda today. This appears to counter criticism that the TPP talks have lacked transparency and non-industry input.
EU Wrestles With Procedure For Signing Marrakesh Treaty For Visually Impaired 03/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the European Union recently approved a compromise proposal by the Greek presidency, setting up a decision on the EU Council’s signing later this month of the Marrakesh Treaty on access to books for blind and visually impaired persons. However, some EU members raised that the treaty lies within a shared competency between the EU and its member states.
Protection Of Folklore In Draft International Instrument Under Discussion At WIPO 02/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization delegates this week are trying to refine draft articles relating to the protection of traditional cultural expressions (folklore) that could form the basis for an international instrument. Delegates also are considering the connection of the issue to traditional knowledge.
TTIP: EU Commissioner Points Finger At US Secrecy, Investor-State Provisions 02/04/2014 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 11 Comments A number of problems with investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) were outlined by legal experts during a 1 April hearing in Brussels of the International Trade Committee (INTA) of the European Parliament in its last session before the European elections. And the European trade commissioner said he would agree to open the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks and to drop ISDS from the TTIP if the United States would agree.
US Trade Barriers Report Highlights IPRs Among Top Concerns 01/04/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Trade Representative’s annual report on barriers to US exports contains many references to intellectual property rights issues. These include latest topics of debate such as the treatment of pharmaceutical patents in India, online piracy in Russia, and European-guided geographical indications laws in Latin America. It also highlights recent commitments by China on protection of pharmaceutical patents and trade secrets.
“Innocence of Muslims” Creates Copyright Controversy In US 31/03/2014 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment When “Innocence of Muslims” first appeared online, the video provoked outrage among millions of Muslims around the world. Now the consternation has spread to many copyright experts, internet firms, news organisations, and entertainment companies, who assert that a recent 9th Circuit decision about the movie makes a major change in US copyright law, with terrible consequences for the internet, media, and free speech. Others state that the ruling makes no change at all in US law.
UKIPO: New Exceptions In UK Copyright Law Boost Flexibility For Users 31/03/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On 27 March, the United Kingdom introduced new exceptions to its Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 “to make our copyright system better suited to the digital age,” the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has said.