WSIS 2018 Focused On SDGs, Never-Ending Digital Divide, Role Of SMEs 20/03/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The UN-led World Summit on the Information Society Forum (WSIS) 2018 opened its doors this week, with over 2,500 participants. This year, the focus is on sustainable development. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary General Houlin Zhao underlined the importance of reducing the digital divide in a press briefing this morning.
Study – Education About IP Is Low For Non-Lawyers, Even In Top IP Nations 16/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Countries highly dependent on intellectual property rights do little to educate people not working in the IP field about the importance of such rights, an industry-backed study has found.
Sir John Sulston, Human Genome Project Leader, Remembered For Words On IP And Health R&D 14/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Nobel Prize winner Sir John Sulston passed away on 6 March at the age of 75, and was widely remembered in the press and scientific circles, celebrating his research, his wisdom, and his leadership of the landmark Human Genome Project. Intellectual Property Watch recalls his visionary warning and advice a decade ago about the intellectual property system, investment, and science that is still valuable today.
US Copyright Royalty Board Boosts Songwriters’ Streaming Pay Nearly 50% 14/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Variety reports: The [US] Copyright Royalty Board has ruled to increase songwriter rates for interactive streaming by nearly 50% over the next five years, in a ruling issued early Saturday. Equally important, the CRB simplified and strengthened the manner in which songwriters are paid mechanical royalties, modifying terms in a way that offers a foothold in the free-market.
US NTIA Boss On Whois Debate: ‘Keep Data Open For IP Rightsholders, Others’ 12/03/2018 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information David Redl today weighed in on the debate over changes to the storage and public display of personal information of domain name registrants at the meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Redl urged negotiators to keep the so-called Whois database, described by some as a public phone book for the owners of domain names, as open as possible while implementing the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union.
Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week 2018 Highlights Balance In The Copyright System 08/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The fifth annual Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week took place February 26–March 2, 2018, growing to 153 participating organizations—as well as numerous individuals—celebrating the important and flexible doctrines of fair use and fair dealing worldwide. This year’s event was organized by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and participants included universities, libraries, library associations, and many other organizations, such as Authors Alliance, the Center for Democracy & Technology, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the R Street Institute, and Re:Create. Sixty ARL member institutions contributed a wide range of resources this year. Fair Use/Fair Dealing Week was observed around the globe by participants in such countries as Australia, Canada, Colombia, Greece, and the United States.
Council Of Europe Agrees New Guidelines On Media Pluralism, Transparency Of Media Ownership 07/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Strasbourg, France-based Council of Europe today adopted a recommendation containing a range of guidelines aimed at managing the effects of modern technology on the media sector and media pluralism. The recommendation sets out a comprehensive framework of guidelines for a “pluralist, transparent and participatory” media environment, online and offline.
Council Of Europe Adopts Guidelines On Role Of Internet Intermediaries 07/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Council of Europe today adopted a set of recommendations containing some 60 detailed obligations and suggestions for governments to ensure internet intermediaries, such as search engines and social media, uphold human rights and fundamental freedoms online.
UN Rapporteur For Privacy Rebuffed On Surveillance Oversight Negotiations 07/03/2018 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States, China and the European Union were unanimous yesterday in their rejection of international consultations for a possible legal instrument on government-led surveillance and privacy. During the 19th meeting of the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, they called a possible legal instrument against uncontrolled cross-border surveillance proposed by the UN Special Rapporteur on Privacy, Joseph Cannataci, “unnecessary.” But Cannataci responded that the problems cannot be ignored.
Tough Talk On Transatlantic Privacy, Once Again 05/03/2018 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, Věra Jourová, ahead of her US visit announced “a tough tone” on remaining gaps in the implementation of the privacy shield, the arrangement that allows to transfers of data of EU citizens to the United States. Speaking before the EU Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties (LIBE), Jourová said while she had heard the privacy shield was not a priority of the US administration, “it will be a priority, if we make clear that we will suspend the system if it doesn’t work,” adding, “My patience is coming to an end.”