News Reports And Fair Dealing: Moneyweb v Media24 19/05/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The recent decision involving Moneyweb and Media24 (Moneyweb (Pty) Limited v Media 24 Limited & Another [2016] ZAGPJHC 81) is an important one for copyright lawyers in South Africa because it is the first time that two provisions relating to news reporting of the Copyright Act 1978 (the Act) have been judicially considered, namely, sections 12(1)(c)(i) and 12(8)(a). In fact, it is the first time that the application of the fair-dealing provision, section 12(1), has received any judicial consideration, whether in the context of news reporting or otherwise.
Washington Post- Colombia Battles World’s Biggest Drugmaker Over Cancer Drug 19/05/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment [From the Washington Post] BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s government is giving pharmaceutical giant Novartis a few weeks to lower prices on a popular cancer drug or see its monopoly on production of the medicine broken and competition thrown open to generic rivals.
Amid Global Push For Tobacco Plain Packaging, IP And Health Rights Bog Down Africa 19/05/2016 by Munyaradzi Makoni for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Plain packaging is considered unattractive among marketers, loss-making for industries, and a healthy life promoter for governments and the public. The potent mix to balance profits, safeguard jobs and cut illnesses has made it a controversial solution to curb smoking. As it grows in popularity around the world, how is plain packaging faring in Africa?
USITC Finds TPP Benefits US Economy, But Maybe Not Jobs; Unclear On IP Rights 19/05/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States International Trade Commission (ITC), an independent government agency, today released an 800-page analysis of the economic impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement completed last year.
EU Eyes Revamp Of Policy To Speed Drug Approvals In Developing Countries 17/05/2016 by Tatum Anderson for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Article 58, a process introduced by the European Commission to help speed up the time low and middle-income countries take to approve new drugs, could be in for a massive overhaul. A revamp has been proposed because it is underused – just a handful of products have gone through the Article 58 process since its launch in 2004. The most recent is an antiseptic chlorhexidine gel that prevents new-born umbilical cord infections in developing countries. A joint project between GSK and Save the Children, it was approved late last month.
Business Report On Adjudicating IP Disputes In Specialised Jurisdictions Worldwide 16/05/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) has released a report that examines specialised intellectual property courts around the world.
Google’s Book Scan Project Still Under Fire Despite Legal Victory 16/05/2016 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Legal barriers for Google’s monumental book-scanning project have been removed in the United States, but the initiative remains controversial and would likely run afoul of European [corrected] copyright law, legal experts say.
India Releases New Intellectual Property Policy; Reactions Building 13/05/2016 by William New and Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Indian government today released its long-awaited new intellectual property policy, and preliminary reactions appear to be that it caters to international pressures while attempting to provide a national focus. A more careful reading with reactions will follow.
US President Signs New Trade Secrets Law 12/05/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment US President Barack Obama yesterday signed into law a measure aimed at strengthening trade secret protection including by allowing federal courts to hear cases involving trade secret theft.
At WIPO, Music Industry Points Fingers At YouTube For Hiding Behind Safe Harbour 11/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment YouTube is recognised by many as the world’s biggest music platform. Listening to music on YouTube is free for users. However, according to the music industry, it pays very little in terms of revenue, mostly from advertising. It is time that the safe harbour laws behind which YouTube is hiding, creating a market distortion, be revised or better applied, music industry speakers asserted this week at a World Intellectual Property Organization side event.