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 […]
Business, Governments See Momentum For ACTA, But EU Snags 04/03/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch NEW YORK – Business leaders and some global government officials on Monday urged ratification of a global anti-counterfeiting treaty and proposed a series of new strategies aimed at curbing pirated goods they say not only harm developed and developing countries’ economies, but their citizens’ health as well. Meanwhile, European Union participation in the negotiations has come into question, and non-governmental critics have raised concerns about the need for a treaty and the inclusiveness of the negotiations.
“Less Difficult” First WIPO Development Committee Meeting Begins 03/03/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The “historic” first day of the new World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) opened with a focus on procedure, a focus likely to carry through the whole first week, according to participants. “The goal [of this week’s meeting] is to progress on the first and most important […]
Indigenous Groups Express Concerns On IP Protection Of Their Knowledge 03/03/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments By Kaitlin Mara Representatives of global indigenous groups were in Geneva last week to exchange views on the role of intellectual property in the protection of indigenous and traditional knowledge and folklore. Indigenous groups participated an informal meeting held on 22-23 February, and in the weeklong meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization Intergovernmental Committee […]
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 […]
Positive Outcome For WIPO Committee On TK, Folklore, Genetic Resources 29/02/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By William New The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge and other issues concluded a weeklong meeting with a compromise way forward that a range of government officials said was a positive outcome that maintains committee progress. “The meeting was a good one in the sense that we came forward with new ideas” […]
Should the International Standards Organization approve the Microsoft OOXML document format as a global standard? 29/02/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment
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 […]
Members Seek Ways To Move Policy In WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee 29/02/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New Developing countries this week are seeking ways to generate progress in a World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional cultural expressions and other issues of importance to developing countries. But developed countries and to some extent the WIPO secretariat appear to be reluctant to allow the committee, which is at the start […]
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 […]