WTO Raises Attention To Multilateralism 21/09/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization is drawing attention to the importance of multilateralism, suggesting that regional trade agreements may undermine it, that the global economy depends on it, and that it should undergo a thorough analysis at next week’s WTO public forum.
ACTA: Will It Ever Become A Valid International Treaty? 13/09/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments A quiet and little-publicised ratification process might be the last hope for those pushing for international adoption of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). But while the Japanese legislature managed to finalise their ratification recently, processes in several ACTA signatory states seem to be stalled. Some may ask whether ACTA will ever become an international treaty.
US Congressional Push For Release Of TPP Text; US Pressuring Nations Bilaterally? 06/09/2012 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments With talks on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement about to resume, members of Congress are putting pressure on the Obama administration to disclose what it’s seeking on intellectual property rights. And civil society groups say that even more worrying than the closed-door nature of the TPP negotiations is the United States’ increasing use of bilateral meetings to sway other countries.
Donations Rise For Wikileaks To Post Trans-Pacific Partnership Text 31/08/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Nearly US$25,000 – and growing – in donations has been collected to hand over to Wikileaks if it successfully leaks the top-secret text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement currently under negotiation. The draft text has been blocked from public scrutiny while being shared only with industry.
NGOs Oppose US Proposal On Copyright For Trans-Pacific Trade Deal 30/08/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments At least a dozen non-governmental groups from several continents have issued a joint statement opposing apparent copyright language proposed by the United States in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement negotiations. The groups said the draft language, aimed at curbing copyright infringement, could undermine critical copyright exceptions, which are built into laws in order to protect society’s access to public knowledge.
Access To Medicines And Intellectual Property In Jordan 23/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A new study sponsored by the Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA) sheds light on the impact of strong intellectual property protection on access to medicines.
Mexican IP Office Hopes To Persuade Senate On ACTA 15/07/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Mexican Intellectual Property Office (IMPI) last week announced that the Mexican Ambassador in Japan had signed the much debated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Now it thinks it can persuade the country’s new Senate to pass it.
Hard Times Ahead For Rights Holders? IPR High On Brussels Agenda Before Recess 13/07/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments At a little-publicised annual meeting of the Transatlantic Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Working Group in Brussels this week representatives of the European Commission, several United States agencies and rights holder agreed that there might be tough times ahead for IPRs and rights holders. Meanwhile, the Commission is under pressure on copyright exceptions for visually impaired readers on the eve of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting. And the Commission this week introduced new rules on collective societies aimed at easing user access to content.
EU Parliament ACTA Rejection Last Nail In ACTA Coffin For Mexico? 10/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The recent rejection of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement by the European Parliament was “fundamental” from the perspective of some negotiating partners, and may have proved fatal for the agreement in Mexico, according to an observer.
European Parliament Rejection Puts ACTA Future In Doubt 04/07/2012 by William New and Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 20 Comments Today’s overwhelming defeat of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) by the European Parliament could have a resounding effect on the treaty’s prospects for survival, according to sources. Meanwhile, public interest groups are celebrating and copyright holders fuming.