Conseil de l’Europe : l’accès à l’internet est un droit fondamental 12/06/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment L’argument souvent utilisé par les législateurs contre la communication Internet qui veut que ce qui est valable dans l’univers physique l’est aussi en ligne a été utilisé par le Conseil de l’Europe dans une nouvelle résolution concernant les droits fondamentaux en ligne.
USTR Revives Focus On ACTA; Talks Set For July 12/06/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Office of the United States Trade Representative on Friday said it had reviewed the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) under negotiation and has decided to move ahead on the treaty. Negotiating countries will meet in Morocco in July, and the targeted completion is still 2010.
French Revolution Meets Information Revolution In Setback For HADOPI Law 11/06/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The French Constitutional Council on Wednesday decided that two articles of a newly passed law creating a graduated punishment mechanism for alleged copyright infringement on the internet did not comply with the French Constitution. The government has options to proceed with changes reflecting the setback to the so-called HADOPI law.
Copyright Holders Acknowledge Losing Battle For Public Consciousness At World Copyright Summit 11/06/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 34 Comments WASHINGTON, DC – Copyright holders on Wednesday acknowledged they have done a poor job of countering the “anti-copyright” lobby and demonstrating the creative community’s value to the world.
Panel: EU Accord Threatens India; World Customs Body Scales Back IP Enforcement 11/06/2009 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BRUSSELS – India’s status as a top world supplier of generic medicines could be threatened by a free trade agreement its government is negotiating with the European Union, a new study has concluded. Separately, the World Customs Organization has abandoned its intellectual property rights enforcement group, replacing it with a non-policymaking information committee.
French Minister Says HADOPI Law A 21st Century Reality 10/06/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments WASHINGTON, DC – France’s “three strikes” law is both “ambitious” and “realistic,” French culture and communication minister Christine Albanel told a conference Tuesday, and anyone who thinks the internet can be a lawless arena where anything goes is “in the wrong century.” Also at the conference, predictions were made on US legislation on patent reform, performance rights and other issues.
Council Of Europe: Access To Internet Is A Fundamental Right 08/06/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments What applies offline is also valid online – an argument often used against internet communication by legislators – has been turned around to underline fundamental rights on the internet in a new resolution of the Council of Europe.
UN-Led Commission Sees Needs In Internet Governance, Science, Technology 08/06/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A commission under the United Nations charged with monitoring progress in improving science and technology in places where access is difficult and capacity to use that access scarce, concluded its recent annual meeting with draft resolutions on internet and society and on development and science. One notes that there is still much work to be done to bridge the ‘digital divide’ that creates disparities in access to information technology and knowledge in the world; the other calls on governments and UN institutions to find innovative ways to support innovative capacity.
New Top Level Internet Domains – To Be Or Not To Be? 06/06/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Now even trademark owners and large businesses do not really agree on the planned extension of the internet domain name system to include hundreds of new top-level domains (TLDs) like .com.
Swedish Pirate Party Set To Win Seats In EU Elections 05/06/2009 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments COPENHAGEN – As a candidate for the European Parliament elections on Sunday, the Swedish Pirate Party has “good chances” of winning one, two or possibly even three mandates, it says, referring to Swedish opinion polls.