Category Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting

Hard Times Ahead For Rights Holders? IPR High On Brussels Agenda Before Recess

At a little-publicised annual meeting of the Transatlantic Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Working Group in Brussels this week representatives of the European Commission, several United States agencies and rights holder agreed that there might be tough times ahead for IPRs and rights holders. Meanwhile, the Commission is under pressure on copyright exceptions for visually impaired readers on the eve of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting. And the Commission this week introduced new rules on collective societies aimed at easing user access to content.

EU Announces €11B R&D Programme For 2013

The European Commission yesterday announced its largest research budget ever, allocating €10.8 billion towards innovative research aimed at generating job growth for 2013. It issued a call for proposals that includes €1.5 billion targeted toward information and communications technologies.

ITU To Hold High-Level Talks On “Innovation-Stifling, Rampant” Patent Litigation

The UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today announced it will hold a high-level meeting on the global surge in standards-related patent litigation which it said is stifling innovation in information and communications technology.

New UN Human Rights Council Resolution On Internet Rights

The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a new resolution on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the internet. The resolution ties such rights to development, and is said to be the first UN resolution to put online human rights on par with those offline.

European Parliament Rejection Puts ACTA Future In Doubt

Today’s overwhelming defeat of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) by the European Parliament could have a resounding effect on the treaty’s prospects for survival, according to sources. Meanwhile, public interest groups are celebrating and copyright holders fuming.

ICANN Says Internet Multi-Stakeholder Model Is Its Responsibility

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - The multi-stakeholder model of internet governance is the responsibility of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), Fadi Chehadé, designated new CEO of ICANN said at the 44th meeting of the private body in Prague last week.

US Awards Contract For Key Internet Function To ICANN

The United States government on 2 July announced it has awarded a contract to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to manage a key underlying function of the internet for up to 7 years.

WIPO Lauded For New Beijing Treaty On Audiovisual Performances

The UN World Intellectual Property Organization is centre stage when it comes to international IP policymaking, and has hosted great progress during the past 20 years by all accounts. But apart from updates and modifications to existing treaties, and its 2007 Development Agenda, its members have not managed to complete a major new treaty since 1996. Until now.