ICC’s 2012 IP Roadmap Lays Out Key Policy Issues
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) yesterday released a business guide to key intellectual property policy issues worldwide.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
William New
Obama Announces New Trade Enforcement Unit With IP Focus
In the annual State of Union address last night, US President Obama announced a new Trade Enforcement Unit that includes anti-piracy and anti-counterfeiting.
EPO Advisory Board Priorities: Fees, Thickets, Quality
The European Patent Office Economic and Scientific Advisory Board today announced its priorities for research, including patents fees, thickets and quality.
ITU In “Urgent” Meeting On Global Spectrum As New Devices Gobble It Up
A high-level, highly technical UN meeting that occurs about once every four years at which key decisions are made about wireless communications opened today in Geneva. The meeting comes as devices such as smart phones and tablets are devouring many times more spectrum than mobile phones of the past.
Is Piracy Part Of The Digital Ecosystem?
The blog Monday Note has an analysis today on digital piracy in light of the media frenzy over the US Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) bill last week. The analysis suggests that anti-piracy measures like France's Hadopi are not working, but there is evidence that offering competitive legitimate download sites does work.
EU Telecoms Said To Be Unfairly Restricting Internet Access
French online rights group La Quadrature du Net this week announced an analysis asserting that in more than half of European Union countries, telecommunications operators engage in "illegitimate" restrictions of their users' access.
Government Anti-Piracy Measures Working, Music Industry Says
Industry profits from digital music are on the rise as industry-owned music download services expand and gain acceptance, anti-piracy efforts take hold in some countries, and internet intermediaries join in, music industry representatives said today.
Subscriber Alert: WHO Board Considers Key Reform Paper
The World Health Organization Executive Board today is being asked to approve a draft chair's summary of this week's Board discussions on the path to sweeping reform of the UN agency. But the document is unusual, according to some observers, in that it addresses major changes without being considered a negotiation or decision. [Update: this draft was approved by the Board with only the change of deadline for comments to 17 February.]
US Cracks Down On Download Sites In Midst Of Anti-Piracy Debate
In the midst of the global flare-up over draft anti-piracy legislation in the US Congress this week, several heavy-hitting actions were taken in the United States against websites said to be supporting unauthorised content.
US Senate Postpones PIPA Vote; EU Commissioner Joined Opposition
The new age of lobbying through online public engagement showed its effectiveness today as the Senate announced the postponement of next week's vote on controversial anti-piracy legislation that led to unprecedented protests on the internet.
Book Calls For Re-Casting Debate Over TRIPS And Medicines Access
A recent book analyses the role of intellectual property protection in providing incentives for innovation and its impact on access to medicines by retracing the origins, content and interpretations of the World Trade Organization agreement on IP rights and trade. It concludes that the debate needs to be recast in order for all sides to benefit going forward.
SOPA Blackout Was Biggest Online Protest In History, Backers Say
The online protest yesterday against the bills in the United States Congress aimed at stopping internet piracy was the biggest yet, according to statistics being circulated by the protestors. More than 115,000 websites - including four of the top 10 in the US - and over 13 million internet users participated. There were 10 million petition signatures, 3 million emails sent, 100,000 phone calls, and some 3 million messages on Twitter.