Category Lobbying

On IP Protection, USTR Finds Fault With China, India … And Switzerland?

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) does not hesitate to add even its closest friends to its annual list of concerns about possible inadequate protection of US intellectual property rights. So this year, along with perennial listees China, India and dozens of others, vigorous IP-rights defender Switzerland makes an appearance. The annual Special 301 report was issued today, and in its press release this year, USTR also included its primary client in publishing the list - the rightsholder industry.

WHO Debates Changes To Safeguards Against Undue Influence By Outside Actors

This week a group of delegates at the UN World Health Organization is seeking to finalise agreement on a draft framework defining the organisation’s relationships with external actors, such as philanthropy, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Today, Norway put forward a potential compromise. Meanwhile, dozens of civil society organisations called on member states to stand up to pressure to compromise the intergovernmental body’s independence from private sector influence.

WIPO Digital Rightsholders Conference Ponders Business Ideas

Last week’s World Intellectual Property Organization conference on the digital content business gathered speakers from different sectors of industry, from content producers to authors and performers. Rightsholders and others gave updates and tried to advance strategies for managing rights in a digital market.

Leaked IP Chapter Of Asian FTA Reveals Tough Rules For Poorer Partners, Civil Society Says

The alleged intellectual property chapter of a secretive regional trade agreement between an association of ten Asian countries plus six others was released yesterday by a civil society group, which says richer countries in the region are pushing for stringent IP rules.

Ideologies Fly In Discussion Of WIPO Pharma Report Calling For Less Ideology

A study commissioned by the World Intellectual Property Organization to analyse which essential medicines on the 2013 World Health Organization Essential Medicines List were under patent found that over 90 percent of medicines on the list were off patent, and advocated more transparency in patent information. The study’s release set off an outcry among public health advocates who viewed the report as biased toward pharmaceutical companies.

EU Consults On “Neighbouring Rights” For Publishers And “Panorama” Copyright Exceptions

The European Commission is considering giving publishers the same “neighbouring” rights currently available to broadcasters and producers of someone else's copyrighted content, it said in a 23 March consultation document. The inquiry is part of the EC's digital single market initiative to boost Europe's digital economy.

Digital Rights Groups: DMCA Reform Should Target Takedown Abuse, Errors

Advocacy groups supporting digital rights and access online joined rights holders and artists in calling for reform to the United States law intended to balance copyright protection with the free flow of information on the internet. But the advocacy groups say the problem may be rights holders' improper takedowns of online content and errors in the system.

Artists, Music Industry Urge Reform Of “Broken” DMCA

Arguing that the copyright law in the United States intended to protect creative works while allowing access by the next creators is "broken", hundreds of top artists, songwriters, managers and music associations are urging reforms to the law. Top performers like Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera joined the call.

US Tech Industry Associations Endorse TPP

A number of internet and software industry in the United States have come out in support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiated by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) last year.