EU Stakeholders Debate Copyright, Access And Artists In Digital Age
BRUSSELS - Copyright should be abolished because it undermines cultural diversity, a Brussels conference has been told.
Intellectual Property Watch
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European Commission On ACTA: TRIPS Is Floor Not Ceiling
BRUSSELS - The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is increasingly taking shape, but differences are becoming clearer and internet issues and intermediary liability appear to be giving negotiators some headaches. The European Commission Directorate General Trade on Tuesday invited stakeholders to a consultation meeting to share ideas on the much-debated agreement.
Gurry To Judges: We Must Work For Changes To Global Patent Treaty
WASHINGTON, DC - The Patent Cooperation Treaty is not performing up to par and is not helping enough to alleviate the stress on the global patent system, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry said here Tuesday. The backlog theme was echoed by judges from across the globe who said their dockets are getting fuller with IP-related cases.
Obama Administration Lock(e)s And Loads Against Movie Piracy
WASHINGTON, DC - The Obama administration will fight for the movie industry and work to aggressively enforce its intellectual property protections both at home and abroad, United States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said here Tuesday.
Farmers, Politicians, Free Software Fans Demonstrate Against Patents
Farmers’ associations, environmental, aid and development organisations together with anti-patent activists of the free software movement met this week for one of the largest anti-patent rallies in Munich.
Officials Working Informally Toward May Consensus On Avian Flu Preparedness
An informal meeting last week brought together interested parties from different regional groups, as well as representatives from vaccine manufacturers, as a part of a process to resolve contentious issues on pandemic influenza preparedness remaining from the last formal meeting in December.
President Obama Backs RIAA In Online File-Sharing Case
President Obama's US Department of Justice (DOJ) recently filed a legal brief in support of damages sought by an affiliate of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), prompting some observers to speculate on the Obama administration’s impartiality in the RIAA’s file-sharing litigation campaign.
Enzymes A Potential Planet-Saver, But Heavy Patenting Necessary, Industry Says
A dominant global producer of enzymes is arguing that enzymes in biotechnology can make a significant contribution to global environment improvement, but this effort comes with heavy patenting by the company.
People: Kean Out At WHO; US Trade Team In Place
The latest news on people in the international IP community.
Compromise US Patent Reform Legislation Clears First Hurdle
Sweeping patent reform legislation cleared a key United States Senate committee Thursday and is now headed for a vote on the Senate floor after compromises were reached on key sticking points in the bill.
G20 Envisions World IP Court; WIPO Hopeful Host
LONDON—Leaders of the world’s largest economies struck a closed-door deal late Tuesday to create an international court for intellectual property litigation in a move sources said they deemed a best effort to turn back global economic demise.
US Trade Team Responds To Protectionist Pressure In Reports On Trading Partners
The Obama administration’s new trade team has quickly come under pressure to focus on protecting United States interests, including enforcement of intellectual property rights, at a time when multilateral institutions urge governments to remain open for the sake of the global economy.