Much-Anticipated UK Review Of IP Issued
A much-anticipated review of intellectual property and growth by United Kingdom Prof. Ian Hargreaves was issued today.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Europe
EU Makes Push To Facilitate Geographical Indications In ACP Countries
A European Union-backed project organised a conference at the World Trade Organization last week to rally Africa to the cause of geographical indications.
Challenge To Apple’s EU Trademark On ‘App Store’
Several large technology companies such as Microsoft and Sony Ericsson have filed applications at the European Trademark Office seeking to invalidate Apple’s obtained rights to the trademarks ‘App Store’ and ‘Appstore.’
New EU-Industry Agreement Against Counterfeits
The European Commission recently signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at boosting cooperation between rights holders and internet platforms in the fight against counterfeit products sold online.
Thorny Issues Remain In EU-India Trade Talks
According to European Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht, there are still thorny issues on the table in the ongoing EU-India free trade agreement talks, including intellectual property issues.
Trading’s End: Is ACTA The Leading Edge Of A Protectionist Wave?
Government policymakers are stalling on trade liberalization while erecting new nontransparent trade barriers, writes Frederick Abbott.
EU Announces €600M Euro Plan For ‘Internet Of The Future’
With the internet moving beyond connected computers to a new world of mobile-connected machines and objects, it is time to make the internet more capable of handling future data-streams, with increased accuracy, resiliency, and safety, the European Commission said today. In response, the Commission committed €300 million euros over 5 years, to be matched by European research, public sector and industry contributions, for innovation and helping European businesses and government find new internet solutions.
Plant Breeder’s Rights – A Blessing Or A Curse?
Niels Louwaars of the Centre for Genetic Resources, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, discusses the importance of plant breeder’s rights. He makes the case for a carefully balanced protection for plant breeders and changes to patents in agriculture, in order to ensure a competitive, diversified supply of plant varieties and seeds.
European Commission Says It Deepens Commitment To Net Neutrality
With new European Union rules on telecommunications set to take effect next month, the European Commission today adopted a report which it said further commits it to principles of openness and neutrality on the internet.
Lessig At CERN: Scientific Knowledge Should Not Be Reserved For Academic Elite
Free culture leader and Harvard University law professor Larry Lessig was at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) yesterday to talk about access to scientific knowledge on internet. In the symbolic place where the World Wide Web was invented and where scientists are now trying to unravel the creation of the universe, Lessig praised CERN’s open access initiative and in this temple of reasoning, said the copyright architecture was on the edge of absurdity.