UN Drugs And Crime Office Open To Private Donations To Fight Counterfeits 02/07/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A little-known United Nations office fighting illicit drugs and counterfeit goods globally appears to be building a programme of private sector donations for its anti-counterfeiting work.
WIPO Lauded For New Beijing Treaty On Audiovisual Performances 29/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The UN World Intellectual Property Organization is centre stage when it comes to international IP policymaking, and has hosted great progress during the past 20 years by all accounts. But apart from updates and modifications to existing treaties, and its 2007 Development Agenda, its members have not managed to complete a major new treaty since 1996. Until now.
UK Issues Tougher Draft Code For Online Copyright Infringement 26/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments United Kingdom communications regulator Ofcom today published three documents on digital copyright infringement, including a draft code requiring large internet service providers (ISPs) to inform customers of allegations that their internet connection has been used to infringe copyright, and consultations on the code and on cost-sharing.
A Bigger, Meaner Patent War 25/06/2012 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It’s been called a patent war, and it’s raging over much of the globe. In at least ten countries – including the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and South Korea – Apple is locked in ferocious legal battles against Google, Samsung and HTC over whose smartphones and tablets infringe whose patents. There’s a lot a stake: Damages could run into billions of dollars. Even worse, the loser could wind up being forbidden to sell its products in various markets. This costly, high-stakes global patent war may seem unprecedented. But according to many experts, that’s only partly true. In many ways, this patent war is similar to major patent disputes in the past. And it is likely a foretaste of more patent wars in the future.
Unprecedented Vote: EU Parliament Trade Committee Rejects ACTA 21/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments In an unprecedented move, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) today in Brussels passed a report recommending the rejection of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Never before has INTA voted to reject a trade agreement negotiated by the Union.
Meryl Streep, Other Top Actors, Urge WIPO To Finish Audiovisual Treaty 21/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization members yesterday resumed a 12-year-old top-level negotiation for a treaty on the protection of performers’ rights in audiovisual productions, this time with the eloquent urgings of some of the world’s top film and television actors to finish the job.
An Anthem To Ignorance: South Africa’s Case Of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika 20/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The South African national anthem comprises the works Nkosi Sikelela’ iAfrika and Die Stem, which was formerly the national anthem. Nkosi has passed into the public domain and contrary to various claims cannot be used as the basis for royalty claims arising out of its use. The music of Die Stem is however still under copyright but its ownership has reverted from the State to the heirs of the composer in terms of the reversionary interest provisions of the British Imperial Copyright Act and is thus the subject of private ownership. In principle royalties can be charged in respect of its use as part of the current national anthem.
WHO Paper: How To Guard Against Tobacco Companies – And Trade Law 20/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization has published a paper that explains to policymakers and others how to take measures to protect public health against tobacco while staying within the bounds of international trade and investment law, under intense industry pressure. Key aspects of the report deal with intellectual property rights policy, as it relates to international trade.
File Sharing More Opportunity Than Burden, Says Speaker At WIPO 19/06/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The music industry often claims that unauthorised file sharing online is ripping off artists and the economy to the tune of billions of dollars. Although such file-sharing is impacting sales, the losses are grossly overestimated by industry, according to a professor speaking last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization, who also said illegal downloading could prompt untapped markets for complementary products and services.
WTO Review Provides Update On China’s IP Rise 19/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A World Trade Organization review of China’s trade policy includes assessments of the country’s progress on adopting – and becoming a leader of – the global intellectual property rights system.