Original news and analysis on international IP policy
It is “amazing” what can be done via the internet and the Internet of Things is a “game changer,” a speaker said during the Internet of Things Week currently taking place in Geneva. Ninety percent of the data in the world has been created in the last two years. And the speed of data creation is still increasing, another speaker said.
A range of civil society groups and companies today urged the European Union to embrace a more ambitious agenda for reform of the Union's copyright law.
The European Parliament today adopted the Portability Regulation by a margin of 586 to 34 votes with 6 abstentions. The new EU regulation will allow the cross-border use of online paid content which so far was hampered by geoblocking. Users now can access their Netflix, Sky Go or similar subscription services when roaming in the EU. But the regulation will not really end geoblocking, warned the minority opposed to the regulation, as Pirate Party Member Julia Reda.
The WikiLeaks publication of hacking tools and malware the CIA has allegedly used continues to stir the ire and fear of those concerned about the possible risk of the US government’s backdoor access to private data. But WikiLeaks' publication of alleged CIA-created malware instructions, which the CIA has not confirmed as authentic, diverts attention away from how numerous other state-sponsored agents are aggressively seeking to steal intellectual property and other data, security experts say.
Efforts by the newly elected chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee, and ongoing studies and initiatives commissioned by WIPO to move past irreconcilable differences on limitations and exceptions to copyright, had little effect last week in terms of agreeing a work programme. However, the committee agreed to ask the WIPO secretariat to propose a draft action plan on those items, and also adopted a new version of a text on the protection of broadcasting organisations. But there was no agreement on recommending to the annual General Assemblies in October to convene a diplomatic conference to finish negotiations on a broadcasting treaty.
In a talk at the re:publica 2017 in Berlin this week, academics from the Share Lab Project presented how they relied on an unusual resource to get a measure of the algorithms of Facebook. By reading through a part of the 8000 patents registered by the company, the researchers were able to shed some light into the process of how the "Empire" turns the raw data they treat their users as into those valuable big data golden profiles that then can be marketed.
There is growing worry and resentment among music performers around the world about the low level of their remuneration and the fact that they are mostly missing their share of the internet music streaming pie, according to speakers at an event held at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week. Performers need a change in international rules, in particular a right to remuneration, they said.
If piracy is still very much a concern of the music industry, the growing shadow of free online streaming platforms, in particular YouTube, has now become a bigger stinger, according to speakers from the industry at an event at the World Intellectual Property Organization on 2 May. Hiding behind safe harbour legislations originally designed to protect internet service providers from being responsible for unlawful downloading by users, YouTube and other such platforms are threatening the industry and the artists, they said.
Years of discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organization on a treaty protecting broadcasting organisations against piracy of their signals have not been enough to reach consensus language on core principles, such as who and what to protect, and what kind of rights should be granted. This week the newly appointed committee chair suggested that an informal text prepared by the previous chair be made a formal document to serve as a basis for further textual discussions.
E-commerce represents the micro and the massive in business. It offers tremendous potential for business enterprises to access global markets and is there for organisations such as sole traders through small and medium outlets to global giants such as Alibaba and Amazon.
For its third E-Commerce Week from 24-28 April UNCTAD (the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development had the theme, "Towards Inclusive E-Commerce."
A packed week is underway for the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee. Delegates are hoping to find agreement on core principles of a treaty protecting broadcasting organisations' rights, and continue work on possible limitations and exceptions to copyright for education, libraries, and research. In addition, they will decide if they want to work on the issue of resale right, and will consider copyright in the digital environment.
As virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies emerge, so do legal questions arising from their use. While the issues are still mostly hypothetical, they implicate, among other areas, intellectual property rights, lawyers say.