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
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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.
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.
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.]
SOPA, Piracy, Pharmaceuticals May Dominate US IP Policy Discussions In 2012
Online piracy, patent reform and intellectual property issues relating to pharmaceuticals are among the top legislative and regulatory priorities for many stakeholder groups in the United States this year, but given that 2012 is an election year, chances are slim that Congress will push through anything that isn’t a top priority or that could cause too much partisan rancour.
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.
FAQ: What SOPA Would Mean To You
A list of answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the much-disputed anti-piracy legislation before the United States Congress has been published by CNET News. It also reported that some 4.5 million people signed the petition on Google during the blackout protest yesterday.
Book On “Idea Rights” Gives Clear, “Non-Ownership” Explanation Of IP Law
"Idea Rights: A Guide to Intellectual Property" is a new book that looks at the major statutes and cases in intellectual property law with experienced, yet fresh, eyes.
Year Ahead: Busy Copyright Schedule As Europe Seeks Economic Recovery
With European hopes for economic recovery pinned in large part on a more vibrant digital single market, 2012 will likely see a flurry of intellectual property-related legislative activities. Much of it centres on copyright, but the year may also bring movement on a unified European patent and changes in trademark law.
EU Innovation Commissioner Presents Horizon 2020
The European Union Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science today introduced the US policy community to Horizon 2020, the large-scale new multi-year research and innovation funding programme the EU is preparing to undertake.
Websites Everywhere Dark In Protest Of US Anti-Piracy Legislation
In an unprecedented action suggesting intellectual property rights have bumped up against an access threshold, thousands of websites have gone "dark" today in protest against two draft anti-piracy and counterfeiting bills in the US Congress that the protestors say would harm freedoms online. The protest includes major technology firms like Google, Mozilla, Wikipedia, Flickr, Reddit, Vimeo and WordPress.
All Eyes On US Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA): Fate Of Bill Now Unclear
As of today, no one is really sure what the future holds for the controversial internet anti-piracy bills in the United States.