User-Created Content Shows Uncertainty In EU Copyright Law 07/11/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – Uncertainty surrounds the application of European Union copyright rules to material uploaded onto the internet by private individuals, a new study has found. Recent years have seen a proliferation of websites such as Facebook, YouTube and Flickr which allow their users to post photographs, articles, videos […]
EU-Africa Partnership Aims At Knowledge Access, Technology Transfer 07/11/2008 by Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch The European Commission and African Union Commission have agreed to launch six projects in science, space and information technology in a bid to strengthen African scientific capacity, promote technical cooperation, facilitate technology transfer and accelerate the development of African education and research through increasing knowledge access and narrowing […]
Bilski Ruling Moves US Closer To Global Norms For Patenting 06/11/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Compared with other countries, the United States has had a much more expansive view of what inventions can be patented. Late last week, however, the US took one big step closer to international norms. It happened on 30 October, when the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals – often called the country’s “patent court” – issued its decision in In re Bilski.
Protection des indications géographiques et biodiversité : la pression s’accentue 04/11/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Kaitlin Mara Les partisans d’une modification de l’Accord de l’OMC sur les droits de propriété intellectuelle ont clairement montré cette semaine qu’ils n’entendaient pas céder un pouce de terrain sur l’extension de la protection des indications géographiques et l’utilisation du système de brevet pour sauvegarder la biodiversité et les savoirs traditionnels. Parallèlement, les opposant […]
Persisten los esfuerzos por una enmienda sobre biodiversidad en el Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC; ampliación de las indicaciones geográficas 03/11/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Kaitlin Mara No han cesado los esfuerzos por enmendar el acuerdo de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) en materia de derechos de propiedad intelectual, tal como lo dejaron en claro esta semana los partidarios de una ampliación de la protección de las indicaciones geográficas y del uso del sistema de patentes para salvaguardar […]
Participants Ready Agendas For New-Look WIPO Copyright Committee 31/10/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New World Intellectual Property Organization members gather in Geneva next week to take up old and new agenda items targeting international policy on copyright and related rights. Emerging agenda items are limitations and exceptions to copyright – including a possible proposed treaty on access for the visually impaired, and possibly artists’ resale rights, […]
Google Books Settlement A Possible Path To Resolution Of Digital Content Disputes 30/10/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Google’s groundbreaking settlement of copyright infringement claims by authors and book publishers this week resonates beyond the United States, the European Commission and a UK copyright lawyer said. While the agreement affects only US users of Google Book Search, it points the way toward possible solutions to the […]
Push Continues For TRIPS Biodiversity Amendment, Geographical Indications Extension 30/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara The push to amend the World Trade Organization agreement on intellectual property rights has not receded, as made clear this week by proponents of wider protection for geographical indications and using the patent system to safeguard biodiversity and traditional knowledge. But opponents remain steadfast. Meanwhile, the search is on for a new […]
Improbable Match: Open Licences And Collecting Societies In Europe 28/10/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Catherine Saez A French musical group has signed a contract with French collecting society Sacem allowing the exclusion of the group’s internet rights that some claim opens a door to a new model where authors could manage their internet rights while the collecting society administers all other rights related to the use of the […]
Blind Readers Seek Guarantee Of Access Under EU Copyright Law 27/10/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – Exceptions to European Union copyright rules designed to allow blind people access to publications should be made legally binding, according to disability rights organisations. In July, the European Commission opened a public consultation exercise on whether a central piece of EU law on intellectual property needs […]