More Liability For Internet Intermediaries Could Raise Information Control, Panellists Say 11/07/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At the recent University of Geneva summer course on internet law, one panel addressed challenges and strategies for internet intermediaries facing an increased burden of intellectual property rights protection online.
WIPO Meeting On TK Protection Ends With No Agreement, Draft Texts Heading To Assembly 09/07/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The last World Intellectual Property Organization meeting before the annual General Assembly in September ended today, meeting the same fate as many others this year. The committee addressing the protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge could not agree on recommendations to be transmitted to the Assembly, leaving it to the full membership in September.
Divergence On Future Of WIPO TK Committee; US Proposes Work Plan 08/07/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organisation committee seeking to devise a way to protect genetic resources and traditional knowledge from misappropriation is trying this week to refine potential treaty texts and to agree on a recommendation to the upcoming General Assembly. Developing countries are pushing for a final negotiation next year, while the United States proposed a work plan for 2015.
WIPO Copyright Committee: New Broadcasting Treaty Texts Show Narrowing Of Scope 03/07/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After a day of informal discussions on a proposed treaty on protecting broadcasters’ intellectual property rights, the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee yesterday issued two informal discussion papers showing a narrowing of the issues to be addressed. In particular, webcasting has been cast aside in the discussions for the moment.
WIPO Copyright Committee Opens With Debate Over Broadcasting Treaty 02/07/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committeebegan a week of discussions with delegates trying to decide what rights the treaty protecting broadcasting organisations should confer and if it should include internet transmissions. At the outset, a proposal to include industry “experts” into informal consultations to answer technical questions was challenged by several countries. And limitations […]
European Commission Adopts New Strategy On Enforcement Of IP Rights 01/07/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Today, the European Commission adopted two communications on intellectual property rights enforcement, one within the single market, the other in relation to third countries. Focusing on commercial scale infringement activities, the Commission will consider other measures later, including legislative ones.
EPO President Battistelli’s Term Extended Amid Staff Concerns 30/06/2014 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The term of European Patent Office (EPO) President Benoît Battistelli has been extended for three years to 30 June 2018. The vote by the European Patent Organisation Administrative Council strongly backed Battistelli’s quality and efficiency reforms, but sparked unhappiness from staff who see the president as a “dictator”.
WIPO Copyright Committee: More Rights Or Limitations/Exceptions? 29/06/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee meets next week with some uncertainty. Unable to agree on the future work of the committee at the end of the last session, delegates will have to decide how they want to advance work on a proposed treaty protecting broadcasting organisations, and on limitations and exceptions to copyright for the benefit of libraries and education.
The Right To Be Forgotten: Balancing Conflicting Rights 26/06/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch and Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments In a widely publicised case last month, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) applied the “right to be forgotten,” requesting that internet search engines, under certain circumstances, delist links to personal data upon request. The court’s decision establishes a contentious balance between the right to privacy and the public’s right to access to information. The ECJ left this balance to search engines to implement on a case-by-case basis. While some argue in favour of these decisions, others fear the larger worldwide implications that cases are leading to.
US Supreme Court Aereo Ruling Threatens New Risks For Online Firms 25/06/2014 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Internet start-up Aereo suffered a major defeat today, when the US Supreme Court ruled that the company was guilty of copyright infringement. But Aereo may not be the only loser. The ruling could jeopardise a wide variety of other online businesses, many experts warned.