Category Enforcement

European Commission Announces Guidance On Copyright Enforcement, SEP Licensing

The European Commission today announced plans to ratchet up the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, and to introduce more clarity in licensing standard-essential patents (SEPs). The first involves guidance on the 2004 EU directive on the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRED); the second recommendations for making the relationship between patent owners and technology users more “balanced and efficient.”

Must All Foreigners Online Comply With US Copyright Law? (Part 1 of 2)

US copyright law is supposed to apply only within US borders, not to actions done in Poland. But when a company in Poland streamed copyrighted TV shows into the US, that infringed US copyrights, according to a US trial court. This decision will be upheld on appeal, experts widely expect. Such an appellate decision, however, could expand the reach of US copyright law to a problematic extent. It will be tricky to find infringement in this case without also extending US copyright law to any online content posted anywhere on the globe.

WHO Issues Two Reports Detailing Global Problem Of Substandard And Falsified Medicines

The World Health Organization today issued two substantive reports on the problem of substandard and falsified medicines around the world, finding among other things that an estimated one in 10 medical products in low and middle income countries is either substandard or falsified.

INTA Paper On Brexit Calls For Minimal Disruption, Strong IP Protection

The International Trademark Association (INTA) today issued a position paper calling for "minimal disruption" and strong intellectual property rights protection as the negotiations proceed on the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union, known as Brexit. The paper lists core principles and specific recommendations related to IP for both the UK and the EU.

TWN – Proposed WHO Criteria On Medicines In Transit Open Door For Seizures

Geneva, 21 Nov (TWN) - A discussion document prepared by the Secretariat of the World Health Organization (WHO) proposes criteria to justify interventions with respect to medicines in transit. This document is prepared for the 6th meeting of the Member State Mechanism (MSM) to be held from 28 November to 1 December at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, writes Third World Network.

International Court Of Justice Judges Getting Pulled Into Investor-State Cases

According to a study by a watchdog group released this week, numerous judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have worked or are working on at least 90 investor-state dispute settlement cases, despite a prohibition on them doing work…

Buenos Aires Ministerial Not The End Of The Road, WTO Director Tells Reporters

The road to the World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, starting in a couple of weeks does not seem to be a walk in the park, as they say. WTO Director General Roberto Azevêdo, in a press briefing today [27 November], explained what can be expected from the 11th ministerial conference. He said consensus is escaping many issues, but Buenos Aires is not the end of the road, but rather one more step in the direction of trade liberalisation.

Get Prepared For A Passel Of EU Legislation On Copyright And Related Rights

This week several committees in the European Parliament voted on a pile of copyright-related dossiers, and in some instances the steps taken were really small. But the issues include controversial aspects in the legislative drafts on copyright review, broadcasting content and digital content, such as an obligation for providers to monitor third party content, intermediary liability and website blocking.

WIPO Committee Debates Future Of Copyright Exceptions, Will Keep Working On Broadcasting Text

The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee last week sent back to the drawing board draft action plans provided by the secretariat on exceptions and limitations to copyright for specific actors such as educational institutions and libraries. Meanwhile, discussions on the rights of broadcasting organisations against signal theft and piracy are expected to give way to a new text on specific topics, to be produced by the end of the month, while topics such as the resale right did not make it to standing agenda items but remain on list of items to be discussed in the spring.

US NAFTA Negotiating Objectives For IP? Go Big On Digital IP Protection, Fend Off GIs

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a set of negotiating objectives for renegotiating the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that include its hopes for elevating intellectual property in the trade deal. Included in the list: force Canada and Mexico to ratify international treaties, accept US law on IP protection and create conditions for "strong" IP enforcement especially online, and ensure ample protection for products with generic names. Perhaps oddly, there is only one mention of trade, which includes respect for a 2001 text at the World Trade Organization on IP and public health.