Internet Service Providers Fear Trend Toward Liability For Content 26/11/2007 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch The rising trend of holding Internet service provider (ISPs), host and platform operators liable for third party violations of laws relating to copyright, competition and the protection of minors is of increasing concern to industry associations like the Association of the German Internet Economy, known as Eco. At Eco’s annual meeting in Cologne last week, Malte Gosau, legal counsel for Easynet (a network and hosting operator owned by BSkyB), said: “Recent court decisions push providers to go abroad to start new business models, as they risk being taken to court over third party violations of the law if they provide a commercial platform, a forum, online games or bets.”
WTO Panel On Chinese Content Distribution Delayed 24/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The formation of a World Trade Organization panel requested by the United States on China’s distribution of American copyrighted material was delayed this week after a procedural move on an unrelated matter. The US panel request was to be considered by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 19 November, but the agenda […]
EU Council Agrees Blueprint For Patent Litigation System 23/11/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch European Union governments on Thursday agreed the main components of a patent litigation system that will apply throughout the 27-country bloc. EU ministers for industrial competitiveness gave their broad approval on 22 November to a blueprint for having a single judicial body to assess legal actions which contest the validity of a patent.
South Korea Urged To Strengthen IP In EU Trade Talks 21/11/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – South Korea has been urged to strengthen its intellectual property rules in order to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union. Talks are underway between the EU and the Seoul government aimed at achieving a far-reaching liberalisation of commerce between the two sides. In […]
French Industry Attacks Private Copy Fees As Levy Debate Grows 16/11/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Makers and distributors of digital storage products and audiovisual media last week urged France’s highest administrative court to kill private copy levies on technologies for transferring data such as USB keys, external hard disks and memory cards. The challenges, filed 9 November in the Conseil d’Etat by e-merchant Rue du Commerce and the Syndicat des Industries de Mat�riels Audiovisuels Electroniques (SIMAVELEC), contend that the lack of harmonised levies among European Union countries violates EU law and hurts online sellers. The legal action came one day after the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) argued that non-payment of levies should be made a criminal offence.
US Lawmakers Seek To Fuel International IP Enforcement Activities 08/11/2007 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch WASHINGTON – Lawmakers in the United States concerned that global counterfeiting and piracy are hurting American business on Wednesday introduced two bills aimed at curbing the practices, and said they want more international cooperation to do so. Senators Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat, and George Voinovich, a […]
Le Conseil sur les ADPIC se penche sur les questions relatives aux PMA, à la santé, la biodiversité, et la mise en application 07/11/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par William New Le Comité sur les droits de propriété intellectuelle de l’Organisation Mondiale du Commerce (OMC) a accordé en octobre un délai supplémentaire de deux ans aux pays pour ratifier un accord de santé publique permettant aux pays d’importer plus facilement des médicaments moins chers. Il a également entrepris d’évaluer les besoins pour les […]
El Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio aborda el tema de los países en vías de desarrollo, la salud, la biodiversidad y las cuestiones de aplicación 06/11/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por William New El comité de los derechos de la propiedad intelectual de la Organización Mundial del Comercio amplió en octubre el plazo a dos años para que los países ratifiquen un acuerdo de salud pública que facilite la importación de medicamentos a bajos costes. También abordó el tema de la identificación de las necesidades […]
WIPO Committees Casting About For Future Work 05/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The World Intellectual Property Organization enforcement committee last week heard from a series of intellectual property rights enforcers and others before attempting unsuccessfully to agree on the future work and moving to consultations till February. Meanwhile, separate consultations are continuing for a mandate for the WIPO copyright committee whose meeting has been […]
Thailand: 20 More Drugs In Pipeline For Possible Compulsory Licences 02/11/2007 by Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – Thailand has in its pipeline about 20 more items of various patented drugs that could be candidates for compulsory licences, allowing the government to exercise its right over the patent owners to cut prices and make the medicines more available to the public, a senior Thai […]