NGOs Oppose US Proposal On Copyright For Trans-Pacific Trade Deal 30/08/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments At least a dozen non-governmental groups from several continents have issued a joint statement opposing apparent copyright language proposed by the United States in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations. The groups said the draft language, aimed at curbing copyright infringement, could undermine critical copyright exceptions, which are built into laws in order to protect society’s access to public knowledge.
Silberschmidt To Join WHO As Senior Adviser To Director General 30/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Gaudenz Silberschmidt, head of international affairs in Switzerland’s public health office for the past decade, has been nominated to become senior adviser in the World Health Organization Office of the Director-General. He will have a special focus on the reform process taking place at the cash-strapped UN agency.
US Film Industry Praises Republicans On IP And Internet Freedom 30/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) today (29 August) issued a statement praising the platform language of the Republican Party, which is opposing President Obama in this year’s presidential election.
Public Library Must Provide Accessible E-Readers Under US Law 29/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States Justice Department and the National Federation of the Blind have reached a settlement with the Sacramento, California Public Library Authority to fix violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act caused by using Barnes & Noble NOOK electronic reader devices in a patron lending programme. The readers excluded persons who are blind or have other disabilities requiring features such as text-to-speech or access through audio or tactile options. The library will no longer purchase exclusionary devices and has agreed to acquire a set of accessible ones, as well as train staff on the requirements of the disabilities law.
Revolving Door: US Copyright General Counsel Joins Music Industry 29/08/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Continuing the revolving door tradition between the United States government intellectual property and trade officials and the industries they represent, David Carson, general counsel of the US Copyright Office, will join the top international music industry association in September. Carson will assume a role of influencing policymakers in drafting legislation to protect and promote copyright. His is latest in a series of moves blurring US industry and government lines, and extending to the UN.
Promotion: Upcoming Events, Courses On Top IP Issues 08/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment From Informa: 9th Annual Pharmaceutical Law Academy – 18th – 19th September, London, UK The essential route to a comprehensive update on the key legal challenges affecting the pharmaceutical industry Why attend Pharmaceutical Law Academy 2012? 1. For those new to the industry to gain an excellent grounding in the legal and commercial challenges faced in the pharmaceutical sector in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. 2. For those who are familiar with the sector, the course serves as a practical update and guidance on the hot legal issues and topics in pharmaceutical law. Find more information here. Quote your VIP Code: FKW82293IPWE to receive a 10% discount Intellectual Property Law in the Middle East – 24th – 25th September, Dubai, UAE Hear insights from The Ministry of Economy, Starwood Hotels, Pepsi-Cola, Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance, Al Tamimi & Co and many more! PLUS! Pre-conference workshop: What IP is worth having in the Middle East? Sunday 23rd September 2012, Dubai Are you up to date with the latest IP developments? Are you able to maintain your competitive advantage and manage your IP assets successfully in the Middle East? In the first event of its kind, Intellectual Property Law in the Middle East Conference is the most crucial forum, enabling you to meet your needs to stay abreast with fundamental trade mark, copyright and patent developments in the Middle East. Find more information here. Quote your VIP Code: FKW82296IPWE to receive a 10% discount Protecting the Media – 20th September 2012, Millennium Hotel London Knightsbridge IBC Legal Conferences is proud to announce its 18th annual Protecting the Media event highlighting key legal developments and updates for broadcast, print and new media. 1. Gain cutting-edge updates on the most crucial developments in media law 2. Debate current contentious topics and complex regulations 3. Review the significance of recent cases and their practical implications on your everyday work 4. Discuss best practice and practical challenges to drive investigative journalism 5. Network with peers and leading experts 6. Benefit from hot-off-the press updates on privacy, defamation, data protection and more 7. Embrace practical tools to prepare for problem areas Find more information here. Quote your VIP Code: FKW82292IPWE to receive a 10% discount IP & Competition Law – 25 September 2012, Sheraton Brussels Hotel, Belgium IBC Legal is proud to announce its in-depth IP & Competition Law forum. Key representatives from the European Commission, national competition authorities, private practice and in-house will debate the key legal practical challenges to help you master the challenging interface between competition law and IP law. By keeping abreast of the developments in this complex and fast-moving area of law, you will be able to meet the expectations of competition authorities, exceed the needs of your clients and master the practical challenges in your everyday work. Find more information here. Quote your VIP Code: FKW82275IPWE to receive a 10% discount Online Brand Protection Forum – 24 – 25 October 2012, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel – Tower of London, UK This conference will gather together expert brand representatives from leading organisations with the intention of highlighting, examining and discussing the latest challenges to asserting, maintaining & defending brand presence online How do you police the ever expanding virtual market? What can you do to prevent losing control of your brand? How can you stay on top of perennial maladies such as counterfeiting and trademark infringement? What can be done to counter rogue and deceptive websites? Which policies should be put in place to guard against domain name squatting, phishing, digital piracy and traffic diversion? Find more information here. Quote your VIP Code: FKW82327IPWE to receive a 10% discount Distance Learning Courses: Computer and Communications Law – from Queen Mary, University of London Apply for this distinctive programme of online, distance-learning courses leading to the award of the Queen Mary, University of London LLM, or Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate in Computer and Communications Law. Gain expertise in the legal regimes governing the supply and use of computer and communications technology. Find more information here. UK, EU & US Copyright Law from King’s College London Apply for the 2012-2013 Distance Learning Programme leading to a Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in UK, EU & US Copyright Law. The programme aims to provide the professional with an in-depth and up-to-date knowledge of the general principles of copyright law, mainly focusing on the law in the United Kingdom, the principles of United States copyright law and the major ‘copyright’ Directives of the European Community. Find more information here.
Form Over Function – The ECJ Rules On Software Copyright 06/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Seldom does a fact bear repeating as frequently as the maxim, “There is no copyright in ideas”. And despite the regularity with which this fundamental principle of copyright law is cited, its application remains a bone of contention, Cobus Jooste writes.
Divergent Approaches To Copyright Reform Emerge In Europe 03/08/2012 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Two very different views of copyright reform emerged this week, one from a report commissioned by the UK government, the other from a French citizens’ advocacy group. The former envisions an intricately linked system of digital rights exchanges and databases to streamline copyright licensing, the latter broad, “non-market” sharing of protected works between individuals, among other things. Whether either approach is feasible remains to be seen, and, as always, the devil’s in the details, lawyers say.
In The Spirit Of Fair Play: A Primer On IP And The Olympics 02/08/2012 by Daria Kim for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Mapping out intellectual property issues related to the Olympic Games may itself constitute an engaging exercise: trademark and design protection of the Olympic indicia; data protection of Games results; personality and publicity rights associated with sports celebrities; character rights subsisting in the Olympic mascots; unfair competition law and other legislative means to address ambush marketing and secure the interests of the Games’ exclusive sponsors. The latter appears essential for the purpose of securing the means for staging the Games and sustaining the Olympic Movement.
US Industry IP Campaign Aims To Dispel Misconceptions About Commercial Interests 31/07/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Intellectual property promotion is at the heart of a new campaign launched yesterday by the United States Chamber of Commerce with the aim of convincing decision-makers and the public at large of the value of IP in economic and social terms, and dissipate some misconceptions.