Internet Governance And Celestial Mechanics 19/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At a recent meeting of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), a Cuban expert offered a humorous – but at the same time serious – vision of global internet governance. Below are his remarks.
IP-Watch Spotlight: WIPO Lex, Database Of Global IP Systems 14/08/2014 by Angela Garcia Medina for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment WIPO Lex is a publicly available online database under the World Intellectual Property Organization providing streamlined access to the intellectual property systems of almost 200 jurisdictions. The database now features over 12,000 legal texts, some 600 treaties and is operational in six languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. Intellectual Property Watch takes a look at this resource.
Australia Eyes Copyright Act Amendment To Curb Downloading 11/08/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Australian government is seeking to amend its copyright act to address online copyright infringement. To that purpose, a discussion paper has issued for public input until 1 September. In particular, the paper looks at trends in similar nations and proposes measures to dry up business models operating outside of Australia, and to extend the responsibility of internet service providers.
Compulsory Licences Needed For Affordable Hepatitis C Innovative Drug Regimens 05/08/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Compulsory licences should be issued to roll out generic versions of innovative HCV drugs. Only generic competition can push down the extortionate prices of these lifesaving medicines, while placing equitable access and public interest before monopolistic pharma companies’ business strategies, Daniele Dionisio argues.
Special Report: Update On Implementation Of The EU Patent Package 25/07/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Significant progress has been made in the implementation of the European regulation to establish a European unitary patent and an international treaty which sets up a unified patent court. Given the loaded agenda for the coming year, it seems that a lot of work remains to be done. Meanwhile, an ongoing proceeding before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) initiated by Spain could bring down the whole system, according to sources.
EU Commissioner Hails Open Knowledge, Urges Copyright Reform 17/07/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, today hailed open knowledge in government, science, the internet, and education, and called again for “urgent reform” of copyright.
UNAIDS Gap Report: Need Smarter Scale-Up, Focus On People Left Behind 16/07/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment According to a report released today by the United Nations programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), around 19 million of the 35 million people living with HIV do not know that they have the virus. But if the right steps are taken, the epidemic could be ended by 2030, it says.
More Liability For Internet Intermediaries Could Raise Information Control, Panellists Say 11/07/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At the recent University of Geneva summer course on internet law, one panel addressed challenges and strategies for internet intermediaries facing an increased burden of intellectual property rights protection online.
Indigenous Peoples: WIPO Should Reflect Changing World Order 09/07/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on genetic resources and traditional knowledge routinely holds an indigenous panel during the first day of its meeting. This week, several of the panellists called for delegates working on potential treaties to consider the particular status of indigenous peoples.
The European Right To Be Forgotten Might Be A Pandora’s Box 04/07/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch and Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Over the last few months search engines around the world have been keeping an active eye on the developments of the landmark case ruled by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) requiring Google to consider individuals’ requests to remove links that they say infringe on their privacy.