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French Industry Attacks Private Copy Fees As Levy Debate Grows

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch
Makers and distributors of digital storage products and audiovisual media last week urged France's highest administrative court to kill private copy levies on technologies for transferring data such as USB keys, external hard disks and memory cards.

The challenges, filed 9 November in the Conseil d'Etat by e-merchant Rue du Commerce and the Syndicat des Industries de Mat�riels Audiovisuels Electroniques (SIMAVELEC), contend that the lack of harmonised levies among European Union countries violates EU law and hurts online sellers.

The legal action came one day after the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) argued that non-payment of levies should be made a criminal offence.

Dugie Standeford
November 16, 2007

November Edition of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Now Available

The Intellectual Property Watch Monthly Reporter features the most important news on international IP policymaking, the latest on who is coming and going in the IP community at the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Geneva missions, regional and national IP…

William New
November 16, 2007

Internet Governance Forum: Test Of A New Global Governance Model

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch RIO DE JANEIRO – The debate over whether the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) should grow beyond its no-decisions, dialogue-only capacity was under consideration from the opening of the meeting here Monday. While a…

Monika Ermert
November 14, 2007
2 Comments

Developed Countries Close Some Gaps Between Patent Systems

By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch WASHINGTON, DC – The patent offices of the United States, Europe and Japan have agreed to coordinate work-sharing, improve the quality of patent applications and work on other ways to standardise procedures…

Liza Porteus Viana
November 13, 2007
1 Comment

WHO IP And Health Group Ends Meeting With Substantive Progress

By William New The member governments of the World Health Organization finished an intensive week of negotiations on ways to improve access to healthcare for poorer populations with significant progress on a framework. But difficult work remains for the next…

William New
November 10, 2007
1 Comment

WHO IP And Health Group Turns To IP; Meeting To Continue In 2008

By William New Negotiators at this week’s World Health Organization meeting on intellectual property, innovation and public health appeared to reach preliminary agreement Friday on principles establishing that IP rights should not negatively impact public health and should fit with…

William New
November 9, 2007

WHO Session On IP And Health Clashes On Vision, Practicalities

By William New with Kaitlin Mara Government officials tasked this week through the United Nations with finding ways to develop and deliver treatment for overlooked diseases afflicting the globe’s poor are making uneven but persistent progress in negotiations. Debate has…

William New
November 9, 2007

US, EU, Japan To Sign Understanding On Patent Applications

By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch The United States Patent and Trademark Office, European Patent Office and Japanese Patent Office on Friday will announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on patent applications, Intellectual Property Watch…

Liza Porteus Viana
November 9, 2007

US Lawmakers Seek To Fuel International IP Enforcement Activities

By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch WASHINGTON – Lawmakers in the United States concerned that global counterfeiting and piracy are hurting American business on Wednesday introduced two bills aimed at curbing the practices, and said they want more…

Liza Porteus Viana
November 8, 2007

Report Finds Significant Industry Affiliation in IGWG ‘NGO’ Comments

By Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch As negotiators gather at the United Nations this week in Geneva to seek ways to boost innovation on neglected diseases disproportionately affecting poor people, a new study was released showing that commentators at…

Kaitlin Mara
November 8, 2007

US-Peru Trade Deal The First Test Of Renegotiated IP Provisions

By Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch The United States House of Representatives is poised to pass the US-Peru free trade agreement this week, in the first test of the new “bipartisan trade policy” that led to the renegotiation of…

Martin Vaughan
November 5, 2007
1 Comment

Thailand: Latest Talks With Patent Owners of Cancer Drugs Show Positive Results

By Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – Thai government officials said the latest round of negotiations with patent owners of cancer treatment drugs showed positive results with drug companies agreeing to make their supplies more available to certain…

Sinfah Tunsarawuth
November 5, 2007