BIO Releases Consultant Report Promoting IP Rights 21/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At its annual meeting this week in Boston, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), put its name to a report promoting the advantages of intellectual property rights for the industry.
US-EU Transatlantic Trade Deal Would Skip IPRs 21/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 15 Comments The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) yesterday released an interim report with the European Union on ways to expand transatlantic trade and investment. But apparently this would not including trying to bridge differences on intellectual property rights.
Unprecedented Vote: EU Parliament Trade Committee Rejects ACTA 21/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments In an unprecedented move, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) today in Brussels passed a report recommending the rejection of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Never before has INTA voted to reject a trade agreement negotiated by the Union.
An Anthem To Ignorance: South Africa’s Case Of Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika 20/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The South African national anthem comprises the works Nkosi Sikelela’ iAfrika and Die Stem, which was formerly the national anthem. Nkosi has passed into the public domain and contrary to various claims cannot be used as the basis for royalty claims arising out of its use. The music of Die Stem is however still under copyright but its ownership has reverted from the State to the heirs of the composer in terms of the reversionary interest provisions of the British Imperial Copyright Act and is thus the subject of private ownership. In principle royalties can be charged in respect of its use as part of the current national anthem.
Music Publishers, Universal Sign “Groundbreaking” Licence Deal 19/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A trade association representing music publishers and songwriters today announced a model licensing deal with Universal Music Group that is expected to allow songwriters and publishers to share in the revenue from music videos. Universal is the first record label to make such an agreement, parties said.
IP Owners Join USPTO: Copying For Patent Applications Is Fair Use 19/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and a leading US rights holder group have entered a case involving rights over prior art submitted in patent applications, arguing that it falls under fair use.
Study Finds EU Copyright Law Harms Investment In Cloud Computing 19/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A technology industry-friendly economic study released today found that changes to European copyright laws in recent years have negatively impacted venture capitalists’ investments in cloud computing companies. This followed several French and German court rulings, it said.
EuroDIG: Will Governments Let Civil Society Rescue Net Governance? 18/06/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The roles of governments, civil society and industry in ruling the internet – and other spaces – seems to be in a profound change. With governments in cross-border law enforcement situations increasingly unable to protect fundamental rights, as European Parliament Member Marietje Schaake said during a session of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) in Stockholm last week, it seems to be civil society that can do something about it.
UNCTAD Report Sees Sustainable African Growth In IP Flexibilities 15/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations agency on trade and development this week published its Economic Development in Africa 2012 report, which argued, among other things, that the region’s sustainable future depends on using flexibilities in intellectual property rights as appropriate.
Plant Patentability Questions Deepen In EPO Tomato Patent Case 13/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 30 Comments While the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office is reviewing the so-called “tomato case,” collateral questions are being raised about the consequences on plant innovation of the non-patentability of some processes.