Group Calls For ITU Constitution Amendment To Protect Right To Privacy 01/09/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the right to privacy in the digital age has been lauded by a group of civil society organisations who also called states to curtail mass surveillance and for the ITU constitution to be amended.
IP-Watch, DiploFoundation Offer Shared Internship In Geneva 21/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual Property Watch is pleased to announce a joint internship opportunity with the DiploFoundation/Geneva Internet Platform in Geneva, covering events and issues related to internet governance.
Analysis: Monkey In The Middle Of Selfie Copyright Dispute 20/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments The recent case of a monkey selfie that went viral on the web raised thorny issues of ownership between a (human) photographer and Wikimedia. Two attorneys from Morrison & Foerster sort out the relevant copyright law.
Internet Governance And Celestial Mechanics 19/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At a recent meeting of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), a Cuban expert offered a humorous – but at the same time serious – vision of global internet governance. Below are his remarks.
Australia Eyes Copyright Act Amendment To Curb Downloading 11/08/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Australian government is seeking to amend its copyright act to address online copyright infringement. To that purpose, a discussion paper has issued for public input until 1 September. In particular, the paper looks at trends in similar nations and proposes measures to dry up business models operating outside of Australia, and to extend the responsibility of internet service providers.
Switzerland Continues Work On Changes To Online Copyright Rules 06/08/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Switzerland is considering the “modernisation” of its copyright law to adapt the rights and obligations of various stakeholders to the “realities” of the internet. The country’s generous exception on private use of downloaded material appears to be preserved in the proposed change but internet service providers might feel the pinch.
Poland Eyes IPR Reform To Combat Plagiarism In Scientific Theses 30/07/2014 by Jaroslaw Adamowski for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Polish Parliament is currently finalising work on a bill designed to make using anti-plagiarism software compulsory for Polish higher education institutions (HEIs). With the new law, universities are to become obliged to check all Bachelor’s, Master’s and Ph.D. theses to detect acts of plagiarism. However, local observers doubt whether the bill will provide Polish HEIs with sufficient means to counter this widespread problem and protect intellectual property.
Collective Rights Management Takes Root In Uganda 24/07/2014 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With an increase in the number of entrepreneur artisans in Uganda, a need to protect and benefit from the artisan works has emerged in the country. There is a growing trend in rights management, especially in the fields of musical works, film and art.
Global Project Looks At Takedown Notices Across The Internet 23/07/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Takedown Project is a recent initiative bringing the research community together to explore how the notice-and-takedown procedure in cases of alleged online copyright infringement are handled by internet service providers around the world. The project aims to create greater transparency in order to improve the quality of this global regulatory system.
Can The Dot Pharmacy New Generic Domain Be Impartial? 21/07/2014 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments New generic top-level domain names seem set to be a constant source of discussions and dissension. The domain “.pharmacy” has been awarded to a United States pharmacy association with industry backing, stirring concerns among civil society and others. But the association insists it will work in an impartial manner to ensure safety of online pharmaceutical sales.