European Commission Unveils First Copyright Reform Proposals To Mixed Review 09/12/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Commission’s long-awaited effort to reform Europe’s copyright system includes a proposal for cross-border portability of online content services and an action plan for updating copyright rules. The proposals are the first in its Digital Single Market strategy, the EC said. The announcement prompted mixed reviews from internet service provider and consumer groups and one EU lawmaker but a warmer reception from rights holders.
Authors: Fair Dealing In Copyright Law If Ill-Defined Is Prejudicial To Writers 08/12/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment On the side of this week’s World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR), the International Authors Forum held a side event on 7 December. Speakers underlined the importance of copyright for authors so that they can make a living from their writing, and warned about ill-defined fair use in copyright law.
EU Trade Commissioner Announces Reading Rooms For TTIP Text In EU Capitals 05/12/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem, speaking to the President of the German Bundestag, Norbert Lammert, announced reading rooms for the consolidated texts of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in all capitals of the EU member states.
IP Summit: Changes In Patent System, Intermediary Liability And The Future Of IP 04/12/2015 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The stretch run for Europe’s Unitary Patent System (UPS) again took centre stage at the Premier Cercle IP Summit 2015 in Berlin yesterday. Eyes are on Germany for the ratification of the UPS. Cornelia Rudloff-Schäffer, president of the German Patent Office, in the keynote speech assured the 300 hundred participants Germany was preparing for the new system and called out to industry to prepare for the change, saying: “Check your portfolio now.”
European Court Of Human Rights Finds Turkey Violated Freedom Of Expression In YouTube Blocking 01/12/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Ten sites allegedly disrespectful to Kemal Attaturk, founder of modern Turkey, were enough for the courts in Turkey to ban a whole platform – YouTube – from 2008 until the end of 2010. But a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights today declared the blanket blocking a violation of the right to receive and impart information freely, protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
New Text For Proposed WIPO Broadcasting Treaty Now Available 27/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee has issued a new consolidated text on definitions, what should be protected, and the rights to be granted to broadcasters. The text comes in the lead-up to the next meeting of the committee.
Compromise Future Work Plan Adopted For WIPO Committee On Enforcement 27/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on enforcement concluded yesterday with an agreement on the future work of the committee. The adoption of this programme was heavily discussed during the week, reflecting the different approaches on enforcement of intellectual property rights among countries.
Russia Reform Of National IP Industry: Royalty Scheme And A New Mega-Regulator 26/11/2015 by Eugene Gerden for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Authors will receive more for their inventions in Russia, as the local government has changed a scheme on the distribution of authors’ royalties. In addition, the government is setting up a new body to draw together the two dozen agencies that deal with aspects of the intellectual property system.
At WIPO, Former South Africa Judge Calls For Balance In IP Rights Enforcement 24/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Alongside this week’s meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on enforcement, an event featured a former South African Supreme Court judge presenting his views on IP enforcement. There is a need to go for the “big fish,” he said, and to bring balance in sanctions and enforcement procedures. He also described courts as finding that exceptions to copyright are a public right.
TPP Article 14.17 & Free Software: No Harm, No Foul 24/11/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment [Software Freedom Law Center, Link (CC-BY-SA)] The first official public release of the text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement (known universally as the TPP) on November 5, 2015 generated much heated speculation. The ideal of “open agreements, openly arrived at” remains regrettably unattainable in international affairs. “Fast track” trade negotiating authority in the US means that parties excluded from the negotiating process have a short time in which to mobilize for or against the treaty as a whole in light of their specific concerns. The premium on speed of response to a very lengthy and complex legal document—and the presence of intense public attention—guarantees that hasty judgment and occasional self-promotion will always outrun professional analysis; this is one of the inherent defects of secret legislation.