Verizon Executive Discusses Telecom’s Move To Open Access 10/12/2007 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch NEW YORK – Verizon Wireless, in a surprise move for a company known to fiercely protect its network from outside use, announced on 27 November that it would adopt an “open-access” policy for the use of its wireless services. This means that third-party devices, including Google’s still in-development mobile-phone operating system Android, will be able to use the Verizon network, and opens the way for a global expansion for the telecommunications company. Speaking at investment bank UBS’s Annual Global Media Conference in New York on 5 December, Verizon President and Chief Operating Officer Denny Strigl explained the choice.
EU Online Copyright Bill Coming; Publishers Debate DRMs 09/12/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New BRUSSELS – European publishers and copyright holders have a friend in European Information Society Commissioner Viviane Reding, which she reinforced last week in describing efforts to push through a new bill on digital publishing copyrights. At the same event, publishers and cutting-edge US technology company SecondLife debated IP issues such as the […]
France’s Online Anti-Piracy Plan Comes Under Scrutiny 07/12/2007 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch Legal experts and consumer rights groups are questioning the feasibility of measures described in an anti-piracy pact that French media groups, government officials, and Internet service providers (ISPs) announced on 23 November. ISPs also dispute the veracity of media reports that have since claimed that access providers will begin to actively monitor and block peer-to-peer file exchanges in France. The anti-piracy agreement describes a number of possible measures that could prevent illegal distribution of copyright-protected digital media in France.
Film Industry Touts ISP Partners In Filtering Online Content 05/12/2007 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch NEW YORK – Internet service providers are going to lead the monitoring of networks to ensure they are not being used for infringing purposes in the entertainment industry’s seemingly endless battle to maintain control over where their content is distributed, and to whom, Motion Picture Association of America Chairman Dan Glickman said Tuesday. Glickman, speaking at the 35th Annual UBS Global Media & Communications Conference on 5 December, said his organisation – which represents the motion picture, home video and television industries – is working with telephone, cable and Internet companies, most notably AT&T, to ensure their networks are not being used to illegally share or download content. The relationship is somewhat ironic given the entertainment industry’s rocky history with the ISP community and its previous efforts to force telecommunications companies like Verizon to reveal the identities of customers who infringe copyrights on peer-to-peer filing systems.
Accord CAFTA : un Comité des Nations Unies questionne les dispositions de propriété intellectuelle relatives aux droits de l’homme 03/12/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment par Kaitlin Mara pour Intellectual Property Watch Lors d’une récente réunion, le Comité des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels (CESCR) de l’organisation des Nations Unies a fait écho aux préoccupations exprimées par les opposants costaricains à l’Accord de libre-échange entre l’Amérique centrale et les Etats-Unis, notamment pour ce qui est des droits de propriété intellectuelle. […]
L’Indonésie envisage de délivrer des licences obligatoires pour trois nouveaux médicaments contre le VIH/sida 29/11/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Sinfah Tunsarawuth pour Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – L’Indonésie envisage actuellement d’exercer les droits prévus par sa législation pour produire, sans l’autorisation des titulaires de brevets, des versions meilleur marché de trois nouveaux médicaments contre le VIH/sida. Le pays a déjà fait usage de ce droit pour fabriquer trois médicaments similaires. Selon le docteur Samsuridjal […]
France To Require Internet Service Providers To Filter Infringing Music 27/11/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch French record labels and Internet service providers (ISPs) have agreed on a ground-breaking plan to fight online music piracy. Among other things, the 23 November memorandum of understanding requires Internet access providers to experiment with filters to block infringing files. Making ISPs shoulder more responsibility for copyright violations on their networks while leaving intact their immunity from liability for content for which they are “mere conduits” represents a sea-change in the interpretation of the European Union E-Commerce Directive, said attorney Winston Maxwell of Hogan & Hartson.
WTO Panel On Chinese Content Distribution Delayed 24/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The formation of a World Trade Organization panel requested by the United States on China’s distribution of American copyrighted material was delayed this week after a procedural move on an unrelated matter. The US panel request was to be considered by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body on 19 November, but the agenda […]
South Korea Urged To Strengthen IP In EU Trade Talks 21/11/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – South Korea has been urged to strengthen its intellectual property rules in order to sign a free trade agreement with the European Union. Talks are underway between the EU and the Seoul government aimed at achieving a far-reaching liberalisation of commerce between the two sides. In […]
WHO Kicks Off Talks On Flu Pandemic, Benefits, Access To Vaccines 21/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New The politically explosive issue of ensuring everyone benefits from vaccines in the event of an influenza pandemic is the subject of a negotiation underway at the World Health Organization this week. The work of the member governments calls into question a longstanding WHO system for global sharing of disease strains, and involves […]