German Parliament Passes Changes To National Copyright Law
The German Parliament on 27-28 June passed several changes to German copyright law and introduced limits and a financial cap on how much lawyers can charge for notices against file-sharers.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Access to Knowledge/ Education
How The Main Issues Of The Marrakesh Treaty For The Blind Were Solved In The Nick Of Time
It is no secret that the negotiations were arduous leading up to the Marrakesh treaty on exceptions and limitations to copyright for the blind, to the point where there were doubts halfway through the 17-28 June diplomatic conference that consensus could be reached. Unanimous credit was given to the facilitator of informal discussions between parties, Martin Moscoso, director of the Copyright Office of Peru (INDECOPI).
During the week, tensions were high, as some contentious issues were still unresolved. Intellectual Property Watch asked Moscoso what tipped the balance between a text with a large number of open issues to a clean text with no brackets.
Over 50 Countries Sign Marrakesh Treaty On Copyright Exceptions And Limitations For The Blind
Marrakesh, Morocco - The 28 June signing of the new international treaty to improve access to published materials for the visually impaired brought relief to the beneficiaries and satisfaction to delegations. But some underlined the need to sign and ratify the new treaty.
WHO Issues Guidelines To Push HIV Epidemic Into “Irreversible Decline”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new recommendations that call for earlier HIV treatment with antiretroviral therapy (ART) in an effort to keep HIV patients healthier for a longer period of time.
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.
In Aftermath Of Treaty Adoption, Civil Society, Industry Reflect On Outcome
Hours after the adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organization Marrakesh treaty expected to facilitate access to special format books for visually impaired people, a range of stakeholders gathered for a stocktaking exercise on the treaty.
Alongside Celebration Of New Treaty In Marrakesh, Blind People Demonstrate For Jobs
As World Intellectual Property Organization delegates were giving their closing statements after today’s adoption of the Marrakesh treaty for the blind that some called a miracle, just outside the door of the Palais des Congrès, a large group of blind people was demonstrating to bring attention to their need for employment.
Copyright Levies Can Be Imposed On Sale Of Printers, Computers, EU High Court Rules
Governments can impose copyright levies on sales of printers and computers, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) said in a 27 June ruling.
Interview With WIPO Director General Francis Gurry On New WIPO Treaty
With this week’s agreement in Marrakesh, Morocco on an international treaty to ease cross-border access for the blind to copyrighted books, the UN World Intellectual Property Organization has completed its second treaty in the past 12 months - with more potentially on the way. WIPO Director General Francis Gurry sat down with Intellectual Property Watch's Catherine Saez in Morocco hours after the treaty text was agreed by WIPO members to discuss what it means.
Miracle à Marrakech: un traité “historique” pour les déficients visuels
Marrakech, Maroc – L’ambiance était à la fête au Palais des Congrès de Marrakech pour acclamer le succès des négociateurs de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Propriété Intellectuelle dans leur tentative de produire un projet de texte consensuel. Après un début de semaine difficile, les efforts des délégués ont été couronnés de succès et les couloirs du Palais des Congrès résonnaient le 25 juin de clameurs joyeuses et d’éloges. Des larmes de joies étaient versées tandis que cette victoire était collectivement acclamée comme un accord historique. Les déficients visuels et la société civile qui les soutenait étaient euphoriques, certains se déclarant dépassés par l’ampleur de la réussite.
WIPO Treaty For The Blind Shows That Transparency Can Work (And Is Necessary)
Prof. Sean Flynn writes that the transparency in the breakthrough agreement on an international treaty for the visually impaired in Morocco is a lesson for trade negotiators who encounter difficulties after keeping trade agreement texts secret until negotiations are over, such as in the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).
Medicines Patent Pool Signs New Licence Agreements
The Medicines Patent Pool, Shilpa Medicare, and Gilead Sciences have signed an agreement to increase access to HIV treatment medicines. The agreement will allow Shilpa Medicare to manufacture “five key HIV medicines for sale in 100-112 countries,” and the goal is to cover “a majority of people living with HIV.”