Proposal For A New Model Giving Rights To Online Sharing Of Content 09/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A new publication by a well-known open access advocate proposes a business model for sharing content online that would recognise sharing as a right.
In 2012: Are Biotech, Ethics And Biodiversity Friends or Foes? 08/02/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With food demand and prices rising as the world crosses the threshold of 7 billion people, the need to find new medicines, concerns about the shrinking biodiversity and the effects of climate change may designate biotechnologies as the main response. Opinions differ on the way to address those issues, in particular about intellectual property rights attached to biotechnologies. Legislative questions are being discussed on both sides of the Atlantic around the scope of patentability, and intellectual property rights on plants, seeds, molecules or methods, as well as exemptions that some think should be applied. The year ahead will see some decisions that might impact the biotechnology industry both in the United States and in Europe.
Will The Old Music Industry Giants Be Exchanged For New Ones? 02/02/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CANNES, FRANCE–The red carpets were still there at the Midem, the world’s largest music fair, but they have become shorter. The industry shattered over the years by the decline in physical sales and fighting fiercely against digital piracy this year praised the revenue from digital sources which have overtaken physical sales in some countries. But it remains to be seen – can the old giants partner with the new, digital platform giants, and survive?
European Commission Orders Italy To Drop Patent Linkage Delaying Generics 31/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Commission has issued a formal request to Italy to remove linkage between patents and generic medicines authorisation that it says is causing delays in generics reaching the market.
Geographical Indications Register Gains Ground Outside WTO 30/01/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A private sector-led effort to compile a global register of geographical indications is gaining support, topped by a sizeable donation from the Italian government. The effort is being undertaken outside the World Trade Organization in spite of an agreed – but long stalled – mandate at WTO to create a register.
Most EU Members Sign ACTA; SOPA-Style Protests Building 27/01/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment While most of the 27 member states of the European Union signed the much-debated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) yesterday in Tokyo, joining the United States, Japan and other ACTA partners, hackers brought down the website of the European Parliament, and a key official stepped down. This may be only the beginning of the protests and petitioning.
ICC’s 2012 IP Roadmap Lays Out Key Policy Issues 25/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) yesterday released a business guide to key intellectual property policy issues worldwide.
EPO Advisory Board Priorities: Fees, Thickets, Quality 24/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Patent Office Economic and Scientific Advisory Board today announced its priorities for research, including patents fees, thickets and quality.
Is Piracy Part Of The Digital Ecosystem? 23/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The blog Monday Note has an analysis today on digital piracy in light of the media frenzy over the US Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill last week. The analysis suggests that anti-piracy measures like France’s Hadopi are not working, but there is evidence that offering competitive legitimate download sites does work.
EU Telecoms Said To Be Unfairly Restricting Internet Access 23/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment French online rights group La Quadrature du Net this week announced an analysis asserting that in more than half of European Union countries, telecommunications operators engage in “illegitimate” restrictions of their users’ access.