Digital Rights Groups: DMCA Reform Should Target Takedown Abuse, Errors 03/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Advocacy groups supporting digital rights and access online joined rights holders and artists in calling for reform to the United States law intended to balance copyright protection with the free flow of information on the internet. But the advocacy groups say the problem may be rights holders’ improper takedowns of online content and errors in the system.
Artists, Music Industry Urge Reform Of “Broken” DMCA 01/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Arguing that the copyright law in the United States intended to protect creative works while allowing access by the next creators is “broken”, hundreds of top artists, songwriters, managers and music associations are urging reforms to the law. Top performers like Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera joined the call.
Council Of Europe Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019 Stresses Human Rights 01/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Council of Europe, the 47-member intergovernmental group based in Strasbourg, France, this week adopted an internet governance strategy for the next four years, putting particular emphasis on human rights and democracy online. The strategy includes a series of steps and actions.
USTR Annual Report On Trade Barriers Highlights IPR Rights And Wrongs 01/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today (30 March) issued its annual National Trade Estimate report pointing fingers at trading partners’ practices it sees as barriers to US trade. And the treatment of intellectual property in countries like India is high on the list. But the report also goes to lengths to praise progress in countries too.
Review Of WHO Pandemic Flu Preparedness: Data Sequencing And Other Issues 31/03/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Five years after its adoption, a World Health Organization mechanism to help the world be ready for future influenza pandemics is being reviewed. According to several stakeholders invited to share their views, a major challenge is genetic sequence data, which allows digital reproduction of material. Other issues include the relationship of the mechanism to an international convention on access to genetic resources, and the contribution of industry.
GSK Eases IP Rights For Poorest Countries, Considers Patent Pooling For Cancer 31/03/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In light of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines initiative, the GlaxoSmithKline company today announced steps to further help bring innovative medicines to poor countries.
US Tech Industry Associations Endorse TPP 31/03/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A number of internet and software industry in the United States have come out in support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiated by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) last year.
India, EU Leaders Touch On IPR, Innovation, ICTs, Pharmaceuticals 30/03/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The leaders of India and the European Council today in Brussels discussed a wide range of topics including intellectual property rights – including geographical indications – innovation, digital issues, and health and pharmaceuticals.
Synthetic Biology: Is Scientific Progress Outrunning Normative Process? Case Of The CBD 30/03/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A research group announced in March that it has designed the first minimal synthetic bacterial cell. Rapid advances in science seem to be leaving the international normative process lagging behind. Current international instruments are seeking to understand how this new technology will impact their regulatory efforts, while civil society raises high concerns.
Despite Supreme Court Ruling, Foreign Sales Don’t Affect US Patent Rights 29/03/2016 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The controversial ruling was perhaps to be expected. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals doggedly hewed to its existing interpretation of patent law. Unfortunately, the court’s decision in Lexmark International v Impression Products conflicts with recent Supreme Court jurisprudence, according to many experts – thus leaving unresolved some important questions about how much control patentees can maintain over their patented products.