Internet Service Providers Fear Trend Toward Liability For Content 26/11/2007 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch The rising trend of holding Internet service provider (ISPs), host and platform operators liable for third party violations of laws relating to copyright, competition and the protection of minors is of increasing concern to industry associations like the Association of the German Internet Economy, known as Eco. At Eco’s annual meeting in Cologne last week, Malte Gosau, legal counsel for Easynet (a network and hosting operator owned by BSkyB), said: “Recent court decisions push providers to go abroad to start new business models, as they risk being taken to court over third party violations of the law if they provide a commercial platform, a forum, online games or bets.”
WTO Panel On Chinese Content Distribution Delayed 24/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The formation of a World Trade Organization panel requested by the United States on China’s distribution of American copyrighted material was delayed this week after a procedural move on an unrelated matter. The US panel request was to be considered by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 19 November, but the agenda […]
Governments Urged To Use Compulsory Licences To Boost Drug Access 23/11/2007 by Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – Thai and foreign public health campaigners on Friday urged governments to exercise their right over patent owners to provide access to cheaper essential medicines for the poor. They also called for a new global mechanism to encourage “humanitarian research” in which research and development of drugs […]
EU Council Agrees Blueprint For Patent Litigation System 23/11/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch European Union governments on Thursday agreed the main components of a patent litigation system that will apply throughout the 27-country bloc. EU ministers for industrial competitiveness gave their broad approval on 22 November to a blueprint for having a single judicial body to assess legal actions which contest the validity of a patent.
Indonesia Urges Change To Global Virus-Sharing System 23/11/2007 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In the ongoing WHO debate over the sharing of virus strains and benefits accruing from that sharing (including potential patenting), Indonesia has been facing off against much of the developed world and its industry in seeking new strong measures to ensure developing countries receive fair and equitable treatment. The Indonesian health minister presented the country’s […]
South Korea Urged To Strengthen IP In EU Trade Talks 21/11/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – South Korea has been urged to strengthen its intellectual property rules in order to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union. Talks are underway between the EU and the Seoul government aimed at achieving a far-reaching liberalisation of commerce between the two sides. In […]
WHO Kicks Off Talks On Flu Pandemic, Benefits, Access To Vaccines 21/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New The politically explosive issue of ensuring everyone benefits from vaccines in the event of an influenza pandemic is the subject of a negotiation underway at the World Health Organization this week. The work of the member governments calls into question a longstanding WHO system for global sharing of disease strains, and involves […]
WHO Elevates IP Issues To Director General’s Office; Zucker To Depart 20/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The World Health Organization, which has intensively debated intellectual property rights issues in recent years, has restructured its management of the issues, elevating IP to the director general’s office. “[The restructuring] shows the importance that the director general is giving to this particular issue, and reinforces what WHO is already doing in […]
WIPO Director’s Planned Early Departure Draws Mixed Reactions 20/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New When Kamil Idris, the director general of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization, informed staff last week that the process for electing his successor would occur one year early, it was met with mixed reactions. It also is likely to be met with a torrent of politicking for the next DG. […]
New Open Letter From Staff To The Director General Of WIPO 19/11/2007 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This item has been removed on request of WIPO.