Shift In Discussions About R&D At This Week’s World Health Assembly 26/05/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Public health advocates – and many nations – had high hopes that this year’s World Health Assembly could finally agree on some alternative ways to fund research and development that leads to affordable medical products by de-linking R&D costs from prices, through the long-awaited discussion of a landmark 2012 report of a WHO expert group on medical R&D. This week, that discussion has spread across the highest profile topics of the week such as antimicrobial resistance and emergencies, but some are concerned that the public health safeguards recommended by the expert group may be being left behind.
European Commission Floats Broad Package Of Reforms For Digital Single Market 25/05/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Commission today unveiled a raft of strategies aimed at boosting the European Digital Single Market (DSM). Among them, the EC rejected the idea of imposing one-size-fits-all rules on online platforms but said it will consider sector-specific regulation to address specific problems relating to such platforms, including in the area of copyright.
Unaffordable Medicines Now Global Issue; System Needs Change, Panellists Say 25/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments At a side event to this week’s annual World Health Assembly, a member of the Netherlands Ministry of Health delivered an unexpected speech on access to medicines, calling for more clarity in the setting of medicine prices, looking inside and outside of the patent system for solutions, and praising de-linkage. Other panellists viewed partnerships as a key ingredient to fill research and development gaps. And a representative from the Gates Foundation advised against a hasty switch to new system.
WHO Engagement With Outside Actors: Delegates Tight-Lipped, Civil Society Worried 24/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments This week, country delegates meeting at the annual World Health Assembly are expected to come to an agreement on a framework managing the UN World Health Organization’s relationship with outside actors, such as the private sector, philanthropic organisations and civil society groups.
Transition Of Core Internet Functions (IANA) Oversight From US Government No Done Deal 24/05/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Will the US National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) be able to handover oversight over the management of the DNS root zone and other core databases of the internet in September? At a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee in Washington today, proponents and opponents showed off and Senator Marco Rubio, former presidential candidate, strongly […]
News Reports And Fair Dealing: Moneyweb v Media24 19/05/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The recent decision involving Moneyweb and Media24 (Moneyweb (Pty) Limited v Media 24 Limited & Another [2016] ZAGPJHC 81) is an important one for copyright lawyers in South Africa because it is the first time that two provisions relating to news reporting of the Copyright Act 1978 (the Act) have been judicially considered, namely, sections 12(1)(c)(i) and 12(8)(a). In fact, it is the first time that the application of the fair-dealing provision, section 12(1), has received any judicial consideration, whether in the context of news reporting or otherwise.
WIPO Copyright Committee In Freewheel Mode; Conversation Continues 17/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It is difficult to understand whether the prospect of a treaty protecting rights of broadcasters is getting nearer or farther away at the World Intellectual Property Organization, as some countries are still calling for a diplomatic conference to finish the treaty, while others are saying agreement on core issues such as what and who the treaty should protect seems elusive. And the committee discussion of copyright exceptions and limitations was nourished by non-governmental entities explaining the need for those exceptions.
Google’s Book Scan Project Still Under Fire Despite Legal Victory 16/05/2016 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Legal barriers for Google’s monumental book-scanning project have been removed in the United States, but the initiative remains controversial and would likely run afoul of European [corrected] copyright law, legal experts say.
US President Signs New Trade Secrets Law 12/05/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment US President Barack Obama yesterday signed into law a measure aimed at strengthening trade secret protection including by allowing federal courts to hear cases involving trade secret theft.
WIPO Copyright Committee: Broadcasting, Exceptions, Stronger Artists’ Rights 09/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This week, World Intellectual Property Organization members are picking up discussions on a possible treaty to protect broadcasting organisations against signal piracy. Also on the agenda is exceptions and limitations to copyright for certain users. And proposals for two new topics for committee discussion are expected to be considered.