Common Text Emerges On Copyright Exceptions For The Blind 17/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments A cross-cutting group of major World Intellectual Property Organisation members today produced a “non-paper” on limitations and exceptions to copyright for visually impaired readers at a WIPO meeting on copyright. The group had met in informal consultations for a few months and achieved consensus on the substance this morning, according to sources.
Copyright Vital For Authors, Adaptable For Wide Access, WIPO Panellists Say 17/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Copyright is necessary to allow authors to live from their trade and to guarantee their independence, and exceptions should be decided by authors and publishers, according to panellists on a copyright dialogue held at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week.
EFF: Judge Dismisses Copyright “Troll” Case 15/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A US judge ruled yesterday that copyright “troll” Righthaven lacked legal authorisation to bring an infringement lawsuit because it did not have ownership of the copyright in question, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The case could have an impact on the future prospects of so-called copyright troll cases, EFF said.
Possible Treaties Brewing At WIPO Committee On Copyright 14/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Potential international legal instruments will be discussed this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization where delegates will try to find common language to address the protection of audiovisual performances, the protection of broadcasting organisations and agree on a set of exceptions and limitations to copyright for visually impaired people.
Time For A Positive Agenda, WIPO’s Gurry Tells Copyright Crowd 13/06/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In remarks that have raised questions among libraries and the information technology industry, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis last week told a copyright industry gathering that it is time to move away from a “negative” agenda of limitations and exceptions to copyright. It may also be a time for more private-sector involvement in international policymaking, he said.
New Brussels Lobbying Group Communia Works For A Stronger Public Domain 13/06/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 2 Comments A new association is being launched this week in Brussels with the mission to promote the digital public domain. The move comes in the face of heavy lobbying for stronger copyright protection.
UN Expert: No Government Internet Restrictions For Political Reasons, IPRs 07/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Governments should refrain from restricting the flow of information on the internet, and the private sector should not be in charge of policing it, a United Nations adviser on freedom of opinion and expression said last week in a report. He also criticised disconnection of users on intellectual property rights grounds.
A2K Standards Proposed For UN Consumer Guidelines 01/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Consumers International today invited comments and proposals for a set of proposed amendments to include access to knowledge standards in the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection.
IT Industry Sends Mixed Message To The Group Of 8 In Deauville 27/05/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It was a mixed message going out from the eG8 Forum – the first “Internet G8 meeting“ – that ended in Paris this week and passed its results to the heads of state of the Group of 8 most industrialised countries meeting now in Deauville, France.
EU Commission Flexes Enforcement Muscles With New IPR Strategy 24/05/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Commission today published a strategy intended to boost the economy by analysing and applying polish to European Union rules on intellectual property rights, including increased attention to enforcement with a crackdown on small shipments from internet purchases.