Argentina Copyright Case Brings Access To Education Into The Spotlight 12/05/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments An Argentinean philosophy professor is being sued for alleged copyright infringement for posting translated versions of French philosopher Jacques Derrida’s works on a website, according to the Copy South Research Group. The case is bringing international attention to the limitations on access to education brought about by copyright.
WIPO Patent Cooperation Committee To Proceed With Study With Constraints 12/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members on Friday overcame anxiety about overreaching of the UN body and agreed to study the Patent Cooperation Treaty, including proposals aimed at improving the efficiency and implementation of the treaty, taking into account some members’ concerns.
The World Is Going Flat(-Rate) 11/05/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 34 Comments A new study shows a copyright exception for legalising file-sharing is feasible, as a cease-fire in the “war on copying” emerges. A new social contract between creatives and society is needed, says media sociologist Volker Grassmuck.
Golan Case May Put US In Violation Of International Copyright Treaties 08/05/2009 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A United States federal court recently gave some bad news to the US government and many foreign copyright owners – including the estates of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Dmitry Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky. The court struck down a US statute which had restored copyright protection to the works of these foreign authors. By limiting copyright restoration, the ruling might prevent the US from fulfilling its obligations under the Berne Convention and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
Brazil Tightens Rules On Drug Companies’ Influence On Physicians 07/05/2009 by Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment RIO DE JANEIRO – The interaction between pharmaceutical companies and physicians has been discussed intensely in the last three years in Brazil, and recently has come under heightened scrutiny.
WIPO Members Move Ahead On Development Agenda Implementation 04/05/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization in difficult negotiations last week approved a new plan for implementation of recommendations for deepening WIPO’s development focus, according to participants.
US Special 301 Process Acclaimed By Industry, Assailed By Public Interest Groups 02/05/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments While heralded by patent- and copyright-based industries as a welcome step, the annual report on alleged inadequate protection of US intellectual property rights released by the Office of the US Trade Representative released this week is being blasted by some civil society groups.
Accord sur les ADPIC : point de départ et non finalité de l’Accord de lutte contre la contrefaçon 27/04/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment BRUXELLES – L’Accord de lutte contre la contrefaçon (ACTA) continue de prendre forme, mais des divergences se font de plus en plus jour entre les pays membres sur les questions liées à l’Internet et à la responsabilité des intermédiaires qui semblent donner des maux de tête aux négociateurs. Une réunion de consultation a été organisée le mardi 21 avril à Bruxelles à l’initiative de la Direction générale du commerce de la Commission européenne afin de permettre aux parties prenantes de concilier leurs points de vue sur cet accord extrêmement discuté.
El ACTA: según la Comisión Europea, el Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC es la base, no el límite 27/04/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BRUSELAS – El Acuerdo Comercial de Lucha contra la Falsificación (ACTA, por su sigla en inglés) está tomando forma, sin embargo, se están haciendo cada vez más patentes las discrepancias y, al parecer, los temas relacionados con Internet y con la responsabilidad de los intermediarios están dando dolores de cabeza a los negociadores. El pasado jueves, la Dirección General de Comercio de la Comisión Europea invitó a las partes interesadas a asistir a una reunión de consulta para intercambiar ideas sobre el acuerdo tan debatido.
Mixed Review Of Swedish Pirate Bay Jail Sentences 26/04/2009 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment While rightsholders hailed a “landmark” recent high-profile verdict against the operators of Swedish online file-sharing site The Pirate Bay (TPB), legal and digital rights analysts say it was no surprise. While the law of secondary liability for copyright infringement is by no means settled everywhere, TPB’s attitude toward intellectual property protections means the same decision could have happened in other countries as well, they said.