WIPO Deputy Director For Copyright Resigns
The World Intellectual Property Organization Deputy Director General responsible for copyright, Anne Leer, has decided to resign her post, citing personal reasons.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Europe
ECJ: Topographic Maps, Geographical Information And The Interpretation Of “Independent Material”
The Court of Justice of the European Union gave a preliminary ruling on 29 October related to the definition of a “database,” more especially of the “independent material” constituting a database.
New Industry Coalition To Promote Fair Standards In Licensing
A group of companies launched the Fair Standards Alliance this week in Brussels, aimed at ensuring licensing of standard-essential patents is done on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. This reflects an industry trend toward clarifying the meaning of FRAND to help boost use of patents included in standards.
Publishers Not Entitled To Compensation Under Reprography Exception, EU High Court Rules
European reproduction schemes for compensating authors don't cover publishers, the European Court of Justice said in a 12 November judgment in Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL v. Reprobel SCRL and Epson Europe BV.
Governments, Industry Offer Mixed Hope For Multilateral IP Policymaking
WASHINGTON, DC -- The sun may be setting on multilateral policymaking in intellectual property in the eyes of industry, but leading United States and European Union representatives insist on its continued vital role in trade and economy. But a “new narrative” is needed as they emphasise bilateral and plurilateral agreements.
EU Trademark Reform Advances; Dutch Warn Of Holdup Of Goods In Transit
The European Union Council of ministers today adopted its position on the reform of the European trademark system. The Netherlands delegation abstained from voting out of concern that the proposed reform introduces the possibility to stop goods in transit for possible intellectual property infringement.
Could Cross-Border Extended Collective Licensing Open Digital Treasure Troves?
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Libraries and archives are increasingly important in the digital era, but without better access to their vast reservoirs of data and materials for research and education, “we are going to lose out,” Anne Leer, World Intellectual Property Organization deputy director general, culture and creative industries sector, said at a conference hosted this week by the National Library of Sweden and Stockholm University. The 5-6 November event looked at whether cross-border copyright collective rights management might be an effective mechanism for accessing digital archives and libraries.
Russia To Better Protect IP Of Its Innovative Companies Abroad
The Russian government is considering a package of measures aimed at better protecting intellectual property of Russian innovative companies abroad, according to an official spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Communications.
European Parliament Votes Down Net Neutrality Amendments
By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch After another heated debate, the European Parliament today voted down several amendments aimed at strengthening network neutrality in the new telecommunications package which has been on the agenda of the European Union for…
Russian Parliament May Suspend Reform Of IP System
The ongoing reform of the Russian system of intellectual property may be suspended, due to recent criticism of some of its aspects by the Russian Parliament (State Duma).