Category Access to Knowledge/ Education

EuroDIG: Will Governments Let Civil Society Rescue Net Governance?

The roles of governments, civil society and industry in ruling the internet - and other spaces - seems to be in a profound change. With governments in cross-border law enforcement situations increasingly unable to protect fundamental rights, as European Parliament Member Marietje Schaake said during a session of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) in Stockholm last week, it seems to be civil society that can do something about it.

Global Broadband Commission Urges G20 To Act For Development

The Broadband Commission for Digital Development, a mixed public-private sector leaders group aimed at boosting high-speed internet availability in the developing world, today issued an open letter to the leaders of the Group of 20 urging action which the commission says will lead to greater socio-economic growth.

1,930 Applications For New Domains: .App More Desirable Than .Sex

It is not .sex (or .sexy) anymore, it is .app that companies investing in new domains on the internet think most desirable: 13 applications to operate a future .app registry have been filed with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), which revealed a complete list of 1,930 new top level domain (TLD) applications at a press conference in London today.

Promotion: Upcoming Courses And Events Provide Insights Into IP

Informa has announced a range of upcoming events and courses on the essential aspects of intellectual property and technology of interest to Intellectual Property Watch readers. Here is the list:

Events:

IP Dispute Resolution - 28 - 29 June 2012, Grange City Hotel, London, UK

European Trademarks 2012 – 3rd July 2012, Grange City Hotel, London, UK

Protecting Corporate Information – 5th July 2012, One Drummond Gate, London, UK

IT Law Summer School 2012 – 30 July - 3 August 2012, Downing College, Cambridge, UK

IP Summer School - 13 - 17 August 2012, Downing College, Cambridge, UK

Distance Learning Courses:

Computer and Communications Law LLM, PgDip - from Queen Mary, University of London

UK, EU & US Copyright Law LLM, PgDip - from King's College London

EU Negotiators Tentatively Agree On Plan For Orphan Works

European Union institutions this week informally agreed on how to handle “orphan works” - those whose creators cannot be found. The proposed new directive is the first legislation to come out of the European Commission (EC) intellectual property rights strategy adopted in May 2011, Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said on 6 June.

On Eve Of Protests: Watch ACTA Debate With Key Parliament Members

On the eve of the 9 June Europe-wide protests against the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), journalist Jennifer Baker of IDG met with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Christian Engström (Pirate Party) & Niccolo Rinaldi (ALDE) to discuss the current state of affairs with regard to the ACTA. Watch the video.

Discussion On Counterfeits With A Flavour Of Rum At WTO TRIPS Council

Intellectual property enforcement was discussed at yesterday’s session of the World Trade Organization council on IP-related issues in two different contexts, both involving the United States. Cuba complained about the US failure to comply with a 10-year-old ruling on a Cuban rum brand name, and the US added an agenda item on enforcement against counterfeit goods, both of which created some stir.

European Nuclear Lab CERN Launches New “Easy IP” Plan

Does the idea of a multifunctional, versatile position-sensitive detector for measuring characteristics of a beam of particles spark ideas for useful products of benefit to society and the economy? If so, then CERN has just the thing for you. In an attempt to boost the utility of its research, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the Geneva-based intergovernmental laboratory, today announced a plan to offer its patented technologies for licence royalty-free in order to promote innovation.

Asian Governments Plan To Better Use TRIPS Flexibilities For Health

International trade rules related to intellectual property rights enshrine the notion that there may be cases where exceptions to IP rights are needed by governments, such as sovereign decisions on a nation’s public health. Using those flexibilities could save millions of lives but may mean taking a tough stance in free trade negotiations with bigger trading partners, concluded a meeting of Asian stakeholders this week.