US Justice Department Reaches Settlement In E-Books Case 08/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Department of Justice today announced it has reached a settlement with Holtzbrinck Publishers LLC, which does business as Macmillan, for allegedly conspiring with Apple Inc. to raise e-book prices.
Draft Text On Protection Of Genetic Resources On Its Way To WIPO Assembly 08/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments At the end of a weeklong drafting exercise, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates have produced a text on the protection of genetic resources that appears to be headed to the organisation’s annual General Assembly next September. And some members hope that a high-level meeting will be convened in the course of 2014 to agree on an international instrument or instruments protecting genetic resources against misappropriation.
WIPO Update: Improved Text On Genetic Resources; Disclosure Still Undecided 08/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The second revision of a text on the protection of genetic resources was provided to the World Intellectual Property Organization country delegates this morning. The document, which has been streamlined by facilitators, contains a number of bracketed text, showing divergences which will require further work, including resolving how to track origin of genetic material in patent applications.
New Text Issued In WIPO Genetic Resources Talks 06/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The first revision of what could become an international instrument on the protection of genetic resources was issued this morning and submitted for comments from World Intellectual Property Organization delegates.
European Commission Launches Copyright Licensing Initiative 05/02/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The European Commission has launched an initiative called “Licences for Europe” aimed at promoting copyright licences, as a next step in maintaining traditional copyright in light of new digital technologies.
WIPO: Positions Locked On Protection Of Genetic Resources; Experts To The Rescue 05/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Delegates attending the World Intellectual Property Organization’s committee on genetic resources this week restated their long-held positions on the issue at the start of the meeting yesterday before letting a secluded expert group try to bridge gaps.
Upcoming Law Summit To Address IP Management, Enforcement 04/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The 15th IP Law Summit, produced by Marcus Evans, is scheduled for 21-23 March in Colorado Springs, Colorado, US. Gathering corporate senior IP Counsel together with service providers, the Summit will offer a focused discussion of cutting-edge technology, strategy and products driving the IP marketplace.
Push For EU-US FTA Could Restart Discussions About IPRs 04/02/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The high-level Munich Security Conference this weekend saw a considerable push for going forward with a Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA). Both US Vice-President Joe Biden and German Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle said such an agreement is within reach. But according to experts, negotiations also could re-open discussions on intellectual property protection.
Intense Drafting Session Ahead For WIPO Delegates Working On Genetic Resources 01/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Next week, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates will convene for the first committee meeting of 2013. First up is the protection of genetic resources from misappropriation, and the goal of the week is to bridge gaps so they can construct a text that could become an international instrument on protection.
Mediator’s Report On EU Copyright Levies Recommends Major Changes 31/01/2013 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Copies made by end-users for private purposes in the context of a service previously licensed by copyright holders don’t cause harm that should be subject to private copying levies on reproduction devices such as MP3 players, blank DVDs and photocopiers, a European Commission-appointed mediator said in recommendations published on 31 January. António Vitorino suggested major changes to Europe’s copy levy system to align it with the digital world, but said at a press briefing that “there is still some way to go” to bring stakeholder positions together.