US Perspectives: US Tries Gentler Copyright Enforcement 14/03/2013 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments On 25 February, the US opened a new front in its war against online copyright infringement. Five of the nation’s biggest internet service providers (ISPs) joined with the movie and music industries to launch the Copyright Alert System, a new means of attacking unauthorised file-sharing. This ISP-based enforcement system is similar to efforts in at least seven other industrialised countries. Some of these efforts have apparently slashed unauthorised file-sharing, which suggests the US system will be similarly successful. It is unclear, however, if the US system (or any of the other countries’ systems) will succeed in their ultimate goal – boosting revenues for the movie and music industries.
USTR: IPRs Among “Most Challenging” Issues As TPP Talks Accelerate 14/03/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 26 Comments Intellectual property rights are among the three “most challenging” issues still to be resolved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations following the latest round that wrapped up yesterday, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has said. Meanwhile, chief negotiators said this week that the confidential talks are on track for completion by year’s end. But as before, no substantive details were shared about the content of the negotiations.
Pirate Bay Loses Its Appeal To European Court Of Human Rights 13/03/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in a judgment today rejected the appeal of Pirate Bay founders Fredrik Neij and Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi (application no. 40397/12) to the Court.
Meetings On IP And Innovation In Africa Open In Tanzania 12/03/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments A ministerial-level meeting organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Japan Patent Office, and the Tanzanian government began today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two-day conference, which focuses on how IP can stimulate innovation and development, will be followed by a UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting and a US Department of Commerce Commercial Law and Development Program (CLDP)-led workshop on IP use and protection at the same venue.
Leaked IP Chapter Of India-EU FTA Shows TRIPS-Plus Pitfalls For India, Expert Says 12/03/2013 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments Indian negotiators are reportedly under tremendous pressure to give in to the European demands for a more rigid intellectual property rights regime in the ongoing discussions on EU-India free trade agreement, suggests a leaked draft text of the chapter on IP which is being negotiated.
Digital Rights, Health Concerns As TPP Talks Continue 11/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As closed-door talks for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement progress this week, concerns have been raised about the proposed intellectual property chapter. Industry, public health and digital liberties groups urged negotiators to consider the possible impact on investment, digital rights, access to affordable medicines, and R&D for life-saving medicines.
US Defender Of Internet Freedom, Keen On Protecting IP Rights 08/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments For the third year in a row, the United States mission to the United Nations in Geneva brought together human rights activists from different parts of the world in an effort to promote internet freedom. At a press briefing, a senior US State Department official described efforts to address challenges to freedom on the internet, and said that intellectual property in the context of internet is a complicated issue.
WTO: Wide Support For LDC TRIPS Extension, With A Hitch 06/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property rights met this week and addressed a request by least developed countries for an extension of the period to enforce WTO intellectual property rules. LDCs want that the extension be extinguishable only after a country ceases to be considered as ‘least developed’, which developing countries largely supported. Developed countries, however, were hesitant about the terms of the proposed extension.
Geneva IP Delegates 06/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments As a reference for IP-Watch subscribers, a substantive list of government delegates, alphabetised by country, responsible for intellectual property issues in Geneva.
US Report: Foreign-Owned Firms Dominate IP Industries 06/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A majority of leading firms in IP-related industries are foreign-owned, according to a new report, which argues that this should change the focus of US policymakers on domestic IP protection.