USTR Froman: ‘We Have Had Over 1,200 Meetings With Congress On TPP’ 03/04/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The United States Trade Representative’s office has held over 1,200 meetings with the US Congress about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, USTR Michael Froman told a congressional committee hearing on the US trade agenda today. This appears to counter criticism that the TPP talks have lacked transparency and non-industry input.
EU Wrestles With Procedure For Signing Marrakesh Treaty For Visually Impaired 03/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Committee of Permanent Representatives of the European Union recently approved a compromise proposal by the Greek presidency, setting up a decision on the EU Council’s signing later this month of the Marrakesh Treaty on access to books for blind and visually impaired persons. However, some EU members raised that the treaty lies within a shared competency between the EU and its member states.
Book Presentation At WIPO Brings An Injection Of Optimism 03/04/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In a new book presented last week at the World Intellectual Property Organisation, an optimistic British economist suggests a shift in the way we think about global development by overcoming income as a unique indicator to evaluate worldwide progress.
Africa-EU Businesses, International Organisations Send Recommendations On Health To Leaders 02/04/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment Representatives of private sector, international organisations and others from Europe and Africa this week delivered a set of recommendations on health and pharmaceuticals to the two regions’ leaders ahead of their summit taking place today and tomorrow.
Protection Of Folklore In Draft International Instrument Under Discussion At WIPO 02/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization delegates this week are trying to refine draft articles relating to the protection of traditional cultural expressions (folklore) that could form the basis for an international instrument. Delegates also are considering the connection of the issue to traditional knowledge.
TTIP: EU Commissioner Points Finger At US Secrecy, Investor-State Provisions 02/04/2014 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 11 Comments A number of problems with investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) were outlined by legal experts during a 1 April hearing in Brussels of the International Trade Committee (INTA) of the European Parliament in its last session before the European elections. And the European trade commissioner said he would agree to open the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) talks and to drop ISDS from the TTIP if the United States would agree.
US Trade Barriers Report Highlights IPRs Among Top Concerns 01/04/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Trade Representative’s annual report on barriers to US exports contains many references to intellectual property rights issues. These include latest topics of debate such as the treatment of pharmaceutical patents in India, online piracy in Russia, and European-guided geographical indications laws in Latin America. It also highlights recent commitments by China on protection of pharmaceutical patents and trade secrets.
Assessment Of Climate Change Data Offers Conflicting Advice On IP 01/04/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A much-discussed new United Nations report on climate change addresses intellectual property issues and the role of innovation in developing technology and disseminate knowledge for local adaption to climate change.
“Innocence of Muslims” Creates Copyright Controversy In US 31/03/2014 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment When “Innocence of Muslims” first appeared online, the video provoked outrage among millions of Muslims around the world. Now the consternation has spread to many copyright experts, internet firms, news organisations, and entertainment companies, who assert that a recent 9th Circuit decision about the movie makes a major change in US copyright law, with terrible consequences for the internet, media, and free speech. Others state that the ruling makes no change at all in US law.
UKIPO: New Exceptions In UK Copyright Law Boost Flexibility For Users 31/03/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On 27 March, the United Kingdom introduced new exceptions to its Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 “to make our copyright system better suited to the digital age,” the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) has said.