European High Court Hears Case With Impact On Buying Software Online 08/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Court of Justice (ECJ) this week held a public hearing on a German case involving software companies Oracle and UsedSoft, the second step to a ruling that could potentially set new rules for buying and downloading software on the internet.
A High-Level Collegium Calls For New Global Governance 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A collegium of scientists, philosophers and former heads of state launched an appeal yesterday in Geneva for world governance they called “Global Solidarity, Global Responsibility.”
Berlin Court Rules Facebook Violates User Rights 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The District Court of Berlin, Germany, yesterday ruled that user rights were violated by several parts of social media site Facebook’s general terms and conditions and by its “friendfinder” feature. With regard to copyright law, the automatic worldwide exploitation right granted by users clicking off the terms and conditions was invalid, the court ruled.
Study Seeks To Correct Flaws In Europe’s Copyright Levy System 07/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A recent study has proposed at least two measures to address the gnawing problems in Europe’s copyright levy system, which is being implemented differently in 22 countries in the region.
EU Digital Commissioner: Open Public Data, The Oil Of The Digital Age 05/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, today called for public data to be opened up for all to use, somewhat akin to providing the free oil of the digital age.
Internet Governance In 2012: Reaching New Heights Or Hitting A Wall 05/03/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment There will be more than 50 important meetings talking internet in 2012, and activists and government alike have started calling for streamlining or better cooperation and focus. Yet what might make 2012 a very notable year with regard to the politics of the net is not these meetings, but the rising storms blowing over the net regarding day to day internet politics. The preliminary stop of the un-beloved SOPA/PIPA legislation in the United States and the unexpected hesitation of Europe to sign the controversial ACTA agreement gave a first taste of a hot year in internet governance.
European Parliament Hears Pitch For ACTA; But Did It Change Minds? 02/03/2012 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement consumed hours of European Parliament time this week as the European Commission sought to persuade lawmakers to approve it. But no matter how often EC officials, academics and lawyers said the treaty will not change EU law, scepticism still remains about its potential impact on digital freedoms and access to generic medicines in developing countries – including from the Parliament member who will author the legislative report.
ACTA Ratification Suspended In Europe, Awaits High Court Opinion 23/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Union’s progress of adopting the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiated last year has been suspended pending a ruling by Europe’s highest court, the European Trade Commissioner announced yesterday.
ACTA Doubts Rampant In Europe; Industry Call For “Reasoned Assessment” 13/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 10 Comments Europeans came out by the thousands this week to protest the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), as it goes before the parliament and the remaining governments that have not yet signed on. But a large number of industry associations sent a letter pushing officials to carefully consider the agreement before dismissing it under popular pressure.
EU-India Summit Kicks Off Amidst Warnings Of Impact On Medicines Access 10/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The European Union and India today will engage in a high-level meeting in New Delhi with an agenda that includes energy and climate, research and development, and information and communications technologies. But as they enter the meeting, an international health agency and a powerful health advocacy group have issued statements of concern that intellectual property provisions in a bilateral free trade agreement under negotiation will stifle critical generic medicines production in India, putting thousands of poor patients at risk worldwide.