WHO Undertakes Independent Review Of Its Pandemic Flu Efforts 30/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization’s handling of the recent pandemic influenza outbreak will be examined by an independent panel of experts beginning in April. Meanwhile, new reports from the WHO are available on influenza and on intellectual property and innovation.
Leaked ACTA Text Shows Possible Contradictions With National Laws 29/03/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments “No changes in domestic” law promised the partners currently negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. A leaked 56-page recent consolidated version of the much-discussed agreement shows that this might not be completely true. The draft version with a lot of bracketed text in it shows that some countries are more open about the potential need to change their domestic laws than others.
WIPO Sees Decrease In Cybersquatting Complaints, Warns Of Domain Name Expansion 23/03/2010 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The expansion of internet domain names as proposed is worrying to trademark owners as a significant number cybersquatting cases continue to be filed in the World Intellectual Property Organization dispute resolution system, WIPO said this week. Meanwhile internet intermediaries should play a bigger role in the fight against trademark infringement, WIPO officials said.
EU To Request Publication Of ACTA Documents To Stop “Rumours”; Civil Society Meeting Planned 22/03/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Europe will request the publication of the current drafts for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) at the next ACTA negotiating meeting in New Zealand in April, EU trade official Luc Devigne said today. Speaking at the third EU stakeholder meeting on the hotly debated ACTA today in Brussels, Devigne also said there is also a meeting with civil society planned to take place alongside the New Zealand round.
New US Broadband Internet Plan Scrutinised; Cybersecurity Bill Includes IP 17/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and William New Leave a Comment The United States Federal Communications Commission’s newly released plan to expand broadband internet access within the country was well-received from several sides of the digital rights debate, with some questions. Separately, a new cybersecurity bill introduced in the US Congress today includes measures to protect intellectual property rights.
European Broadcasters Call For Easier Copyright Clearance For Online Content 17/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment European Union copyright law needs to be amended so that the clearance of copyrights is simplified for online content, the European Broadcasting Union said today. The group presented the results of an analysis it conducted today at the European Parliament in Brussels.
European Parliament Votes To Rein In Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty 10/03/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The European Parliament today voted overwhelmingly in favour of a demand to be kept fully informed about the secretive Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement under negotiation by the European Commission and about a dozen countries outside Europe. Parliament also opposed controversial provisions such as personal searches at European borders and cutting internet access for anyone found infringing copyright online three times.
Regards de deux cinéastes africains sur la créativité et le droit d’auteur 10/03/2010 by Cheikh Kane for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Sous l’égide de la Fédération Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films (FIAPF), deux cinéastes africains, invités au festival annuel genevois Black Movie, ont tenu à partager leurs idées sur le dynamisme du cinéma africain et la protection du droit d’auteur.
Interview With Bill Pollock, Founder Of No Starch Press 10/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Bill Pollock is the president and founder of No Starch Press, which publishes books on computing. Known to offer the “finest in geek entertainment,” the publishing house has released such titles as “Steal This Computer Book,” “How Linux Works,” “Hacking: The Art of Exploitation,” “The Cult of Mac,” and “The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide.” Its books are largely about hacking, open source, security, programming, and non-Windows-based operating systems, such as Linux. Mr. Pollock shared his thoughts with Intellectual Property Watch about hacking, piracy, and future of the book publishing business.
Google, ITU Address Policies Of Global Internet Freedom 09/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments A representative of Google and of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union today spoke of internet freedom in repressive regimes and censorship in Western democracies.