New Draft WIPO Broadcasting Treaty Text Published 16/02/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has circulated a new draft text on definitions in the global broadcasting copyright treaty that is under discussion at the UN agency. The draft was prepared by the chair of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), which will meet later this spring.
Copyright For Libraries Around The World In 2018 16/02/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Copyright laws around the world are constantly changing in an attempt to adapt – or react – to the digital world. These changes can have a major impact on how libraries function and on the public service they provide. While some reforms offer new possibilities and legal certainty, others look backwards and seek to use the law to restrict the ability of libraries to guarantee meaningful information access to their users, IFLA writes.
Indian Pharma Industry Disputes US Industry IP Index 15/02/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Chamber of Commerce industry group recently issued its annual global IP index, analysing intellectual property protection in 50 countries, as a prelude to the annual US government list of countries seen as not adequately protection US companies’ IP rights. Now an Indian industry group has issued a counter-statement to the Chamber index, calling it a “tirade” and “self-serving”.
EU Council Clears Way For Ratification Of Marrakesh Treaty For Visually Impaired By Summer 15/02/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Union Council of Ministers today adopted a decision that enables the EU to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty on access to published works for blind and visually impaired readers starting in summer. The copyright exceptions treaty negotiated at the World Intellectual Property Organization and adopted in 2013, went into effect in September 2016 but has been held up in Europe.
Over 50 Libraries, Educators, Researchers Call On EU Parliament For Better Copyright 15/02/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment More than 50 organisations representing a range of teachers, students, trainers, researchers, scientists, librarians and others have joined together to call on the European Parliament to improve European copyright reform for education.
Trump Budget Would Slash Funding For Health, International Organisations 13/02/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Trump administration this week proposed drastic cuts in funding for international activities including foreign policy and global health in 2019, while further building up military and big business activities. Programs related to international activities will have to prove their value to American interests and other countries are demanded to pay more, according to the proposed budget sent yesterday to Congress, which is ultimately expected to set about the task of restoring numerous programs.
US Industry Index Makes Case For Strong IP Protection Worldwide 09/02/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The United States Chamber of Commerce sixth annual International IP Index, released yesterday, highlights positive developments in 50 economies to better protect intellectual property rights so as to reward creativity and innovation. But it also takes aim at practices the US industry group still sees as counterproductive.
On IPR, Major US Trading Partners In Firing Line Of US Industry, While Cancer Patients Ask For Access 09/02/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Every year at this time, the Office of the United States Trade Representative collects comments from stakeholders for its review of how well US trading partners are behaving when it comes to protecting and enforcing the intellectual property rights of US companies. Pharmaceutical companies and an alliance of rights holding industries came prepared with a list of countries to be put on special watch lists, including Canada, Brazil, India, Malaysia, and Switzerland. A patient group, on the other hand, asked that trade interests not supersede access to medicines worldwide.
A Brief Sketch Of Privilegio In The Venetian Renaissance 07/02/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Gavin Keeney writes: As a type of historical morality tale, especially given arguments currently before the European Commission regarding copyright reform and “neighboring rights,” this short treatise addresses the origins of copyright in the Venetian Renaissance in the late 1400s under the aegis of privilegio, notably first granted to authors (author-publishers) versus printers (printer-publishers). Subsequently, printers as publishers would command the lion’s share of such rights to works. Arguably, Venetian privilege transferred the immemorial aspect of written works (here considered “moral rights” for works) to authors in a casual, yet emphatic manner leading to modern copyright. With contemporary copyright nominally belonging to authors, but in fact belonging by expropriation to presses and platforms, it is likely that one of the few solutions, short of benevolent presses fully sharing rights with authors, is for moral rights to return to works by way of the author renouncing copyright but refusing the arrogation of such renounced rights to presses and platforms.
Analysis Of The Working Group On Enhanced Cooperation On Public Policy Issues Pertaining To The Internet 05/02/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Richard Hill writes: The Tunis Agenda calls for enhanced cooperation to address issues related to the Internet and its governance. However, there was no clear agreement on how to implement enhanced cooperation, so a Working Group on Enhanced Cooperation (WGEC) was convened to discuss that matter and to prepare recommendations. A first WGEC group failed to find agreement, so a second group was formed. In 2018, fifteen years later, the digital divide is worse, spam is worse, and security and privacy have become key issues; the fact that ICANN operates under the jurisdiction of the USA is also at times raised. Some are of the view that the evidence shows that current mechanisms are not working.