Category Enforcement

Internet Service Providers Fear Trend Toward Liability For Content

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch
The rising trend of holding Internet service provider (ISPs), host and platform operators liable for third party violations of laws relating to copyright, competition and the protection of minors is of increasing concern to industry associations like the Association of the German Internet Economy, known as Eco.

At Eco's annual meeting in Cologne last week, Malte Gosau, legal counsel for Easynet (a network and hosting operator owned by BSkyB), said: "Recent court decisions push providers to go abroad to start new business models, as they risk being taken to court over third party violations of the law if they provide a commercial platform, a forum, online games or bets."

EU Council Agrees Blueprint For Patent Litigation System

By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch
European Union governments on Thursday agreed the main components of a patent litigation system that will apply throughout the 27-country bloc.

EU ministers for industrial competitiveness gave their broad approval on 22 November to a blueprint for having a single judicial body to assess legal actions which contest the validity of a patent.

French Industry Attacks Private Copy Fees As Levy Debate Grows

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch
Makers and distributors of digital storage products and audiovisual media last week urged France's highest administrative court to kill private copy levies on technologies for transferring data such as USB keys, external hard disks and memory cards.

The challenges, filed 9 November in the Conseil d'Etat by e-merchant Rue du Commerce and the Syndicat des Industries de Mat�riels Audiovisuels Electroniques (SIMAVELEC), contend that the lack of harmonised levies among European Union countries violates EU law and hurts online sellers.

The legal action came one day after the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) argued that non-payment of levies should be made a criminal offence.

Le Conseil sur les ADPIC se penche sur les questions relatives aux PMA, à la santé, la biodiversité, et la mise en application

Par William New Le Comité sur les droits de propriété intellectuelle de l’Organisation Mondiale du Commerce (OMC) a accordé en octobre un délai supplémentaire de deux ans aux pays pour ratifier un accord de santé publique permettant aux pays d’importer…

El Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio aborda el tema de los países en vías de desarrollo, la salud, la biodiversidad y las cuestiones de aplicación

Por William New El comité de los derechos de la propiedad intelectual de la Organización Mundial del Comercio amplió en octubre el plazo a dos años para que los países ratifiquen un acuerdo de salud pública que facilite la importación…

WIPO Committees Casting About For Future Work

By William New The World Intellectual Property Organization enforcement committee last week heard from a series of intellectual property rights enforcers and others before attempting unsuccessfully to agree on the future work and moving to consultations till February. Meanwhile, separate…

Thailand: 20 More Drugs In Pipeline For Possible Compulsory Licences

By Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – Thailand has in its pipeline about 20 more items of various patented drugs that could be candidates for compulsory licences, allowing the government to exercise its right over the patent owners…