Members Seek To Raise TRIPs Amendments In WTO Negotiations 05/12/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New World Trade Organization members seeking changes to international rules on trade and intellectual property rights moved this week to include the debate on their proposals in an upcoming deadline for the broader trade negotiations at the WTO. But opponents continued to resist moving the issues to negotiation. At issue is a proposal […]
Film Industry Touts ISP Partners In Filtering Online Content 05/12/2007 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch NEW YORK – Internet service providers are going to lead the monitoring of networks to ensure they are not being used for infringing purposes in the entertainment industry’s seemingly endless battle to maintain control over where their content is distributed, and to whom, Motion Picture Association of America Chairman Dan Glickman said Tuesday. Glickman, speaking at the 35th Annual UBS Global Media & Communications Conference on 5 December, said his organisation – which represents the motion picture, home video and television industries – is working with telephone, cable and Internet companies, most notably AT&T, to ensure their networks are not being used to illegally share or download content. The relationship is somewhat ironic given the entertainment industry’s rocky history with the ISP community and its previous efforts to force telecommunications companies like Verizon to reveal the identities of customers who infringe copyrights on peer-to-peer filing systems.
EU Acceptance Of TRIPS Health Amendment Adds 28 Members 01/12/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch The European Union has taken steps to ratify a 2005 decision by the World Trade Organization designed to ensure that intellectual property does not limit access to medicines in developing countries. Peter Mandelson, the EU’s trade commissioner, announced on 30 November that the Union has formally told the […]
The Proposed Reform Of Venezuelan Constitution: Cultural And Intellectual Property Issues 30/11/2007 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment [Re: 2 December referendum on constitutional changes in Venezuela] By Rafael Carreño, SAPI External Advisor During the last few months across Venezuela at dozens of open forums -both on the streets and within institutions and in the media, there have been many discussions held among intellectuals, authors, copyright users, small traders, and government officers about […]
EU To Publish Online Content Rule As Industry Launches IP Standard 29/11/2007 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch The European Commission’s is expected to publish by year’s end a communication on creative content online that will address how to improve the competitiveness of European online content production and distribution industry, European officials said Thursday. In remarks broadcast at the unveiling of the Automated Content Access […]
EU Parliament Urges Change In IP Rules For Environmental Technology 29/11/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – Intellectual property rules should be reshaped to ensure that they do not hinder developing countries from gaining access to technology considered vital for addressing climate change, the European Parliament has declared. Members of the Parliament (MEPs) on 29 November approved a report that urges examination of […]
UN Committee Questions CAFTA’s IP Provisions On Human Rights Grounds 29/11/2007 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in a recent meeting echoed concerns raised by Costa Rican opponents of the Central American free trade agreement with the United States, particularly with regards to intellectual property rights. Costa Rican President Oscar Arias signed the Central […]
WTO Launches Probe On China Distribution; Reviews Thai IP Policies 28/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The World Trade Organization has launched an investigation into allegations that China is unfairly limiting the flow of copyrighted material from the United States into the country. Meanwhile, the WTO issued the periodic review of Thailand’s policies including a discussion of intellectual property rights. US concerns in the new dispute are that […]
France To Require Internet Service Providers To Filter Infringing Music 27/11/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch French record labels and Internet service providers (ISPs) have agreed on a ground-breaking plan to fight online music piracy. Among other things, the 23 November memorandum of understanding requires Internet access providers to experiment with filters to block infringing files. Making ISPs shoulder more responsibility for copyright violations on their networks while leaving intact their immunity from liability for content for which they are “mere conduits” represents a sea-change in the interpretation of the European Union E-Commerce Directive, said attorney Winston Maxwell of Hogan & Hartson.
Indonesia Mulls Compulsory Licences On Three More HIV/AIDS Drugs 26/11/2007 by Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – Indonesia is considering exercising rights under its law to produce cheaper versions of three additional patented HIV/AIDS drugs without the patent-holders’ permission, after having used the measure earlier for three similar medicines. Three second-line antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV/AIDS patients are in need in Indonesia, and […]