Category News

EU High Court Upholds Private Copy Levies On First Sale Of Blank Media

Setting general private copying levies on the first sale of blank media such as CDs and DVDs does not necessarily breach EU law, Europe's highest court said on 11 July. The law does not allow the levy to be collected where the intended use of the recording media clearly isn't for making private copies. But it doesn't bar a general levy system that includes the option of reimbursement where the intended use is not private copying, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) said.

WTO Aid For Trade Review Looks At LDCs And Value Chains

Trade, development and value chains were a subject of discussion at this week’s World Trade Organization 4th Global Review of Aid for Trade, an initiative that encourages developing country governments and donors to recognise the role that trade can play in development.

Stevie Wonder In Marrakesh: Today Is A Very Good Day, Now Go Ratify The Treaty!

Marrakesh, Morocco - True to what he said in a 21 June video message, world-famous blind songwriter and performer Stevie Wonder kept his promise to come to Marrakesh if delegates agreed on a treaty to improve access to published material for blind people.

New Draft Text Shows Progress On WIPO Treaty On Books For The Print-Disabled

Marrakesh, Morocco - Negotiators were still hard at work here at press time trying to reach the deadline of tomorrow set by the president of the diplomatic conference, to get agreed language to a drafting committee tasked with delivering a treaty text. The treaty is intended to confer on visually impaired people a wider access to books by providing exceptions to copyrighted works in special format.

WIPO Negotiators Reach Breakthrough On “3-Step Test” In Treaty For Blind

Marrakesh, Morocco - A breakthrough was reached over the weekend in the World Intellectual Property Organization negotiations to provide more access to visually impaired people, according to participating sources. Agreement appears to have been struck on the controversial issue of restrictions to the exceptions to copyright that the treaty is proposing to establish.

Micro Consensus on WIPO Technical Assistance; Prickly Issues Left Open

One of the key discussions of the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and IP (CDIP) this week was the improvement of WIPO technical assistance in the area of cooperation and development. Discussions trailed on for two days as countries were unable to agree on recommendations to be implemented, and if there should be any adoption by the committee. Shy of concrete consensus, the committee agreed on three modest actions.

US Study Calls For Objective Data To Inform Review Of Copyright Policy

The US National Research Council has issued a report that looks at copyrighted works in the age of the internet, and finds a need for objective data and independent empirical research on copyright protection and the limits it can place on innovation and free speech. This comes as efforts are underway to review US copyright policy.

New WIPO Text On Traditional Knowledge Protection Cleaner But Issues Remain

The main goal has been achieved for World Intellectual Property Organization delegates who started last week with the task of improving a document to become an international instrument protecting traditional knowledge. Consensus has not been met on core issues, but a cleaner text has emerged, reflecting a clearer understanding of positions, sources said.

In “Great Shame,” WIPO Fund For Indigenous Peoples’ Participation Running Dry

The participation of indigenous peoples at the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization has become compromised as the funds allowing the organisation to invite indigenous peoples representatives is running dry. At the outset of this week’s WIPO committee seeking to produce an international instrument providing protection to traditional knowledge, an indigenous panel mapped out international agreements recognising their specific rights.