Category English

Internet Service Providers Fear Trend Toward Liability For Content

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch
The rising trend of holding Internet service provider (ISPs), host and platform operators liable for third party violations of laws relating to copyright, competition and the protection of minors is of increasing concern to industry associations like the Association of the German Internet Economy, known as Eco.

At Eco's annual meeting in Cologne last week, Malte Gosau, legal counsel for Easynet (a network and hosting operator owned by BSkyB), said: "Recent court decisions push providers to go abroad to start new business models, as they risk being taken to court over third party violations of the law if they provide a commercial platform, a forum, online games or bets."

Governments Urged To Use Compulsory Licences To Boost Drug Access

By Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – Thai and foreign public health campaigners on Friday urged governments to exercise their right over patent owners to provide access to cheaper essential medicines for the poor. They also called for…

EU Council Agrees Blueprint For Patent Litigation System

By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch
European Union governments on Thursday agreed the main components of a patent litigation system that will apply throughout the 27-country bloc.

EU ministers for industrial competitiveness gave their broad approval on 22 November to a blueprint for having a single judicial body to assess legal actions which contest the validity of a patent.

Indonesia Urges Change To Global Virus-Sharing System

In the ongoing WHO debate over the sharing of virus strains and benefits accruing from that sharing (including potential patenting), Indonesia has been facing off against much of the developed world and its industry in seeking new strong measures to…

WHO Kicks Off Talks On Flu Pandemic, Benefits, Access To Vaccines

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…

WHO Elevates IP Issues To Director General’s Office; Zucker To Depart

By William New The World Health Organization, which has intensively debated intellectual property rights issues in recent years, has restructured its management of the issues, elevating IP to the director general’s office. “[The restructuring] shows the importance that the director…