WIPO Copyright Committee Done For Year; Exceptions And Limitations ‘Here To Stay’ 13/03/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee on Wednesday concluded work until next November in a way similar to recent years, with the same chair, European dominance, no agreement, and division over a proposed treaty on broadcasters’ rights. But it also contained the elevation of a proposal to improve exceptions and limitations […]
New Proposal At WIPO For Exceptions and Limitations Agreement; US Unconvinced 11/03/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Several nations have joined Chile in presenting a new proposal for work on limitations and exceptions to this week’s meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee. The work would include establishing an international agreement on the issue. But the United States told the plenary on Tuesday that it is “not […]
WIPO Copyright Committee Begins New Era With Revised Agenda, Same Chair 11/03/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee on Monday began a new era in the wake of a failed decade of negotiations for a broadcasters’ rights treaty. But it will tackle its new agenda including limitations and exceptions to copyright with the same chairman who guided the broadcasting talks with fervour. Finland’s […]
Complaint Lodged Over EU Parliament’s Exclusive Use Of Microsoft Systems 06/03/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – A formal complaint has been lodged with the European Parliament over how its information technology systems rely almost exclusively on software manufactured by Microsoft. Advocates of open standard software, which is developed on a not-for-profit basis, allege that the Seattle-based giant enjoys an effective monopoly or […]
German High Court Defines New “IT Basic Law” Curbing Online Searches 01/03/2008 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch MUNICH – Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court this week decided that infiltration of personal computers, laptops or other information technology devices of possible suspects by law enforcement violates the basic right of “confidentiality and integrity of IT systems.” In defining confidentiality and integrity of IT systems, the German judges […]
Free, Open Software Supporters Advocate Against Microsoft Document Standard 29/02/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Free software and open standards proponents met this week in Geneva to discuss the importance of standards-setting and to debate the role of patent protections and advocate freedom of information sharing in the digital economy. Organised by open source software advocacy group OpenForum Europe and happening against the backdrop of Microsoft’s bid […]
World Customs Organization Recommends Far-Reaching New Rules On IP 28/02/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – The World Customs Organisation is recommending far-reaching new rules on intellectual property rights that some say may extend beyond the organisation’s mandate. Staff at the WCO’s Brussels headquarters are preparing what they describe as voluntary ‘model legislation’ to provide guidance on how IP rights can be […]
European Carmakers Use Home Courts To Block Alleged Chinese Copies 20/02/2008 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch European carmakers are turning to European courts to urge enforcement of their intellectual property rights against Chinese firms, and they have a good chance of prevailing, legal experts say. At issue are car models that European manufacturers Daimler, BMW, and Fiat say are made-in-China replicas of their models.
Renforcement des droits de propriété intellectuelle: Washington et l’industrie des droits d’auteur continuent de faire pression 19/02/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Dugie Standeford pour Intellectual Property Watch La semaine dernière, une commission interagences influente a indiqué au président Bush ainsi qu’au Congrès américain que les Etats-Unis gagnaient du terrain dans la lutte contre le piratage et la contrefaçon des droits de propriété intellectuelle. Dans leur rapport du 11 février dernier, ces agences ont indiqué que […]
Officials Outline International Organisations’ IP Enforcement Policies 18/02/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara and William New Officials from key international organisations on Friday outlined efforts to develop policies intended to prevent the spread of pirated and counterfeit goods. The officials were joined by representatives of law firms and international companies such as online auction service eBay, which described efforts to save its business model as […]