Panels Look At IP Considerations In Representing Creative Talent 19/01/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK – At a conference of hundreds of performers and agents in a hotel perched on Times Square this week, panellists told some interesting stories about intellectual property rights and protecting – or failing to protect – creations and performances.
Copyright, Unitary Patent System Lead EU IP Priorities In 2016 19/01/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Modernisation of EU copyright and intellectual property rights enforcement law tops Europe’s agenda in 2016. Trademark reform legislation approved last year takes effect this year, and a preliminary deal on trade secrets protection is expected to be finalised. Work on the unitary patent system continues, and there’s an increased focus on the issue of patents versus plant breeders’ rights.
Carmakers Open IP Vaults To Boost Electric Car Demand 12/01/2016 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Several carmakers are aggressively sharing intellectual property and patents in a collective bid to help the fledging vehicle type catch on in the marketplace as a mainstream alternative.
Kenya Takes Steps To Enhance Intellectual Property Awareness 12/01/2016 by Justus Wanzala for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — The government of Kenya has inaugurated a board to steer the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KNIA), which is charged with increasing awareness of intellectual property rights among investors, universities, research institutions and the general public. The move comes as experts have offered gloomy views on the IP situation in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa.
US Intellectual Property Law In 2016: A Preview 11/01/2016 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Familiar intellectual property concerns will continue to vex the United States in the coming year. The scope of patent-eligible subject matter, the requirements for safe-harbor protections against copyright infringement, and the registration of disparaging trademarks will be among the top IP issues to watch in 2016, according to experts.
New Year Brings New Faces To IP World, Bids Others Farewell 08/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The New Year brings some new faces in the intellectual property world as several changes were announced at the end of 2015, in particular at the European Commission, in the private sector and non-governmental organisations. In Geneva, the coordination of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean countries changes, and the UN Plant Treaty is working on intersessional committees. And a leading light in the IP publishing world has retired.
EU Trade Secrets Deal Wins Wary Support from Industry, Free Speech Advocates 22/12/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Industry and public interest groups have welcomed the provisional deal by the European Parliament and EU Council on protection of business know-how and trade secrets but say some of its provisions, particularly on protection of whistleblowers who disclose corporate information, remain troublesome.
US Agency Stripped Of Power To Regulate Internet 16/12/2015 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment America’s International Trade Commission is a tempting venue for US intellectual property owners. The agency acts quickly, has a history of supporting IP owners, and offers a powerful means to stop infringing products from entering the US. So when the ITC expanded its jurisdiction last year, claiming the power to stop online infringements, many IP owners cheered. And many internet companies fretted. Until last month, when the Federal Circuit had its say.
New Standard For Online Linking Of Rights Data Emerges, But Will It Take Off? 15/12/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new standard developed and tested by the Linked Content Coalition’s Rights Data Integration project could revolutionise the way copyrights are managed online, one of its technical advisors has said in an interview. The question now is whether organisations are willing to use and pay for it.
WIPO Copyright Committee Holds Pragmatic Talks On Broadcasting Treaty; New Text Coming 14/12/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee closed last week without a definite work programme for the next session but two new projects seem to have stirred up the committee after years of inconclusive talks on a proposed treaty protecting broadcasts, and exceptions to copyright for libraries, archives, education and research. The new subjects relate to exceptions for museums, and resale rights. Meanwhile, a new text on broadcasting is being prepared for next session.