Paper: States Need To Be Cautious With Internet Intermediary Liability 08/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new paper from a Yale Law lecturer has outlined some general principles that governments must consider when imposing liability for internet intermediaries amid the lack of an international law covering online third-party liability.
Berlin Court Rules Facebook Violates User Rights 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The District Court of Berlin, Germany, yesterday ruled that user rights were violated by several parts of social media site Facebook’s general terms and conditions and by its “friendfinder” feature. With regard to copyright law, the automatic worldwide exploitation right granted by users clicking off the terms and conditions was invalid, the court ruled.
Study Seeks To Correct Flaws In Europe’s Copyright Levy System 07/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A recent study has proposed at least two measures to address the gnawing problems in Europe’s copyright levy system, which is being implemented differently in 22 countries in the region.
US Congressman Posts ACTA For Open Debate 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A United States congressional representative has posted the text of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to the internet and is calling for public comments out of the fear that the agreement will harm the open internet.
Cybersquatting Cases Reached New Record In 2011, WIPO Reports 06/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The number of cybersquatting cases filed with the arbitration body of the World Intellectual Property Organization reached a record high in 2011 with 2,764 cases filed by trademark owners, the UN agency reported today. WIPO also expressed alarm over the potential impact on cybersquatting of a move underway to add more generic domain names to the internet.
EU Digital Commissioner: Open Public Data, The Oil Of The Digital Age 05/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, today called for public data to be opened up for all to use, somewhat akin to providing the free oil of the digital age.
Internet Governance In 2012: Reaching New Heights Or Hitting A Wall 05/03/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment There will be more than 50 important meetings talking internet in 2012, and activists and government alike have started calling for streamlining or better cooperation and focus. Yet what might make 2012 a very notable year with regard to the politics of the net is not these meetings, but the rising storms blowing over the net regarding day to day internet politics. The preliminary stop of the un-beloved SOPA/PIPA legislation in the United States and the unexpected hesitation of Europe to sign the controversial ACTA agreement gave a first taste of a hot year in internet governance.
European Parliament Hears Pitch For ACTA; But Did It Change Minds? 02/03/2012 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement consumed hours of European Parliament time this week as the European Commission sought to persuade lawmakers to approve it. But no matter how often EC officials, academics and lawyers said the treaty will not change EU law, scepticism still remains about its potential impact on digital freedoms and access to generic medicines in developing countries – including from the Parliament member who will author the legislative report.
UN Human Rights Council Rallies On Right To Internet Freedom Of Expression 29/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments With tension seeming to brim just beneath the surface, human rights officials from around the world came together today at the United Nations in Geneva to talk about ways to keep the internet open and nationally regulated at the same time. There were no decisions, and wide differences in views, but the first-of-its-kind panel might have laid the ground for future work on internet freedom and human rights. Intellectual property rights were mentioned several times.
ACTA Debated At WTO; Petitions And Letters Fly In Brussels 29/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments While action on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is occurring at the European Parliament in Brussels – including a new letter from Members of Parliament and 2.5 million petitioners in opposition – ACTA also was the subject of discussion at the World Trade Organization this week.