Trademark Decision Brews Up French-Press Coffee Competition 06/04/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Connoisseurs of French-press coffee based in the United States will still be able to choose between two competing distributors for their favourite brewing device following a recent US court decision over trademark rights on the distinctive coffeemakers.
Special Interests Seeking Power In ICANN’s New Stakeholder Group 04/04/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, which coordinates the global domain name system, is in the process of reforming its core bodies, and consumer representatives and others see a possibility to inject more balance into the international organisation’s stakeholder groups long dominated by a range of private sector representatives.
Study: Blanket Licence For Non-Commercial Copies Needed 04/04/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A blanket licence for non-commercial copies is the logical answer to the technology revolution brought on by the internet. This is the conclusion of a study by the Institute of European Media Law commissioned by the German Green Party and presented in Berlin on 3 April. The study argues that a blanket licence would not […]
Obama And The Media-Sharing Blues 03/04/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Electronic Frontier Foundation has reported that Obama’s gift to the Queen of England, an iPod loaded with Broadway showtunes, may have come with some copyright questions. The issue is over where copyright law stands when music being gifted is digital. In the digital era, the concept of first sale and ownership rights is heavily […]
High Level Task Force On Human Rights Turns Eye To Health And IP 03/04/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and James Leonard for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization global strategy on health and intellectual property includes powerful and potentially paradigm-shifting elements, but it also has notable shortcomings for human rights, says a new document prepared for the United Nations group responsible for the right to development.
‘Three-Strikes’ Internet Policy Progresses In France 03/04/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The French National Assembly on 2 April gave initial approval without changes to a restrictive draft law on the diffusion and protection of works on the internet known by its French acronym HADOPI, (IPW, Access to Knowledge, 23 February 2009), according to sources. Among its measures, the law implements a “graduated response” mechanism, referred to […]
“Burning The Ships” — IP And The New, Open Microsoft 03/04/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments An interview with Marshall Phelps, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for intellectual property policy and strategy and a mastermind behind IBM’s and Microsoft’s massive IP valuations, and David Kline, journalist, author and intellectual property consultant, on their new book, “Burning The Ships,” which looks inside Microsoft’s IP strategy.
Les États-Unis se débattent avec la question de la transparence et l’Europe appelle à une divulgation des textes de l’ACAC 03/04/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Les parlements suédois et de l’Union européenne appellent actuellement la Commission européenne à rendre publics tous les documents liés à un traité international anti-contrefaçon gardé confidentiel, après que les États-Unis ont affirmé que ces textes relèvent de la sécurité nationale et donc du secret d’État. Cependant, ces derniers ont aujourd’hui décidé de revoir leur politique de transparence.
Compromise US Patent Reform Legislation Clears First Hurdle 02/04/2009 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Sweeping patent reform legislation cleared a key United States Senate committee Thursday and is now headed for a vote on the Senate floor after compromises were reached on key sticking points in the bill.
Switzerland, US Sign Science & Technology Agreement 01/04/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Switzerland and the United States on Tuesday signed the first-ever bilateral agreement on scientific and technology cooperation in Washington, DC. The framework agreement covers basic and applied research, involves joint programmes and conferences as well as information sharing, and facilitates visa entry requirements for scientific researchers. US State Department press release available here.