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EPO Head Sees Need To Review IP Rules For Climate Change

By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch
BRUSSELS - Changes to intellectual property rules may be needed to facilitate the use of technology aimed at addressing climate change, the head of the European Patent Office (EPO) has suggested.

Next month, the 34-country EPO will host what it claims is the first major international conference to examine the patenting issues raised by global warming.

Alison Brimelow, the EPO's president, said the European Patent Forum in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana will give an opportunity to exchange ideas on whether the international system for regulating intellectual property should be modified.

April 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…

UK IP Chief: Copyright System A “Constant Conflict”

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch
The copyright system is not a balance but a "constant conflict" whose nature must be continually debated, UK Intellectual Property Office Chief Executive Ian Fletcher said at a recent seminar on the future of copyright. The office is in the throes of a consultation on possible new copyright law exceptions, the most controversial of which is a proposal to allow limited format-shifting.

New National-Level Programmes Echo WIPO Patent Treaty

By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch
NEW YORK - The Japanese Patent Office in April will introduce a new policy called JP-First, which aims to release patent examination results of applications first filed with the JPO to major patent offices throughout the world, including in some developing countries. The initiative and others could be steps toward allowing patent filers to bypass an established international treaty on patents, sources said. Also at the event, government officials and academics also discussed copyright developments in Canada. US experts argued that Canada is not doing its part to crack down on piracy, while the Canadians said they are actually setting the bar in some areas in terms of protecting copyrighted works.

Revision of Swiss Copyright Law Raises Moderate Protest

By Catherine Saez
Switzerland has adopted a new copyright law strengthening the rights of performers, producers and copyright owners online that appears less stringent than similar legislation adopted in some peer countries, according to observers. Nevertheless, some activists still see the Swiss law as jeopardising users' rights.

A Telling Year Ahead For Free And Open Source Technologies

By Kaitlin Mara
The year 2008 is one of consolidation and maturation for alternatives to traditional intellectual property rights made possible by the ease of information transfer via the Internet. The free and open source software community is growing more prominent, and the access to knowledge communities are expanding to include a broader range and deeper understanding of their issues.

UK Anti-Piracy Plan A Work In Progress, Will Address ISP Role

By Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch
The United Kingdom government's much-anticipated release last month of its "Creative Britain" report offered few details about the direction anti-piracy policy could take in the European Union country. But government officials, Internet service providers, media groups and other interested parties are expected to hash out a final draft of a working agreement on enforcement in the coming months, according to sources.

March 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…

Business, Governments See Momentum For ACTA, But EU Snags

By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch
NEW YORK - Business leaders and some global government officials on Monday urged ratification of a global anti-counterfeiting treaty and proposed a series of new strategies aimed at curbing pirated goods they say not only harm developed and developing countries' economies, but their citizens' health as well.

Meanwhile, European Union participation in the negotiations has come into question, and non-governmental critics have raised concerns about the need for a treaty and the inclusiveness of the negotiations.

European Carmakers Use Home Courts To Block Alleged Chinese Copies

By Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch
European carmakers are turning to European courts to urge enforcement of their intellectual property rights against Chinese firms, and they have a good chance of prevailing, legal experts say.

At issue are car models that European manufacturers Daimler, BMW, and Fiat say are made-in-China replicas of their models.

Policymaking On Trade And IP Faces Mixed Prospects In 2008

By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch
With America's political elite fixated on the race for the White House, the likelihood that the world's most powerful country will make much progress during 2008 in free trade negotiations with other nations appears slim.

Across the Atlantic, however, European Union officials have indicated they will be vigorous in insisting that high standards for protecting intellectual property are upheld as universally as possible. Numerous other bilateral talks are ongoing around the world as well. And attention may be drawn from the longstanding trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization.