Original news and analysis on international IP policy
World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy continues to be engaged on intellectual property issues as WTO members begin to revive broader trade negotiations. This week Lamy hosted the heads of the World Intellectual Property Organization and World Health Organization together, and then chaired a consultation with ambassadors on proposals to amend WTO rules on intellectual property and trade.
A United States federal court recently gave some bad news to the US government and many foreign copyright owners - including the estates of Sergei Rachmaninoff, Dmitry Shostakovich, Sergei Prokofiev, and Igor Stravinsky. The court struck down a US statute which had restored copyright protection to the works of these foreign authors. By limiting copyright restoration, the ruling might prevent the US from fulfilling its obligations under the Berne Convention and the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization in difficult negotiations last week approved a new plan for implementation of recommendations for deepening WIPO’s development focus, according to participants.
While heralded by patent- and copyright-based industries as a welcome step, the annual report on alleged inadequate protection of US intellectual property rights released by the Office of the US Trade Representative released this week is being blasted by some civil society groups.
BRUXELLES - L’Accord de lutte contre la contrefaçon (ACTA) continue de prendre forme, mais des divergences se font de plus en plus jour entre les pays membres sur les questions liées à l’Internet et à la responsabilité des intermédiaires qui semblent donner des maux de tête aux négociateurs. Une réunion de consultation a été organisée le mardi 21 avril à Bruxelles à l’initiative de la Direction générale du commerce de la Commission européenne afin de permettre aux parties prenantes de concilier leurs points de vue sur cet accord extrêmement discuté.
BRUSELAS – El Acuerdo Comercial de Lucha contra la Falsificación (ACTA, por su sigla en inglés) está tomando forma, sin embargo, se están haciendo cada vez más patentes las discrepancias y, al parecer, los temas relacionados con Internet y con la responsabilidad de los intermediarios están dando dolores de cabeza a los negociadores. El pasado jueves, la Dirección General de Comercio de la Comisión Europea invitó a las partes interesadas a asistir a una reunión de consulta para intercambiar ideas sobre el acuerdo tan debatido.
As the need to protect the global environment grows, questions are being raised about how intellectual property might help incentivise the development of the right kinds of technology and its transfer to places that need it most.
BRUSSELS - The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is increasingly taking shape, but differences are becoming clearer and internet issues and intermediary liability appear to be giving negotiators some headaches. The European Commission Directorate General Trade on Tuesday invited stakeholders to a consultation meeting to share ideas on the much-debated agreement.
Protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights is emerging as the dominant priority in international trade policy for the European Union and United States, based on communications from trade officials and others. Stimulating innovation also has a significant role.
CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND – In an age when private sector interests are arguably returning to dominance in intellectual property policy debates, two key global policy bodies are being pushed to show their relevance.
The Obama administration’s new trade team has quickly come under pressure to focus on protecting United States interests, including enforcement of intellectual property rights, at a time when multilateral institutions urge governments to remain open for the sake of the global economy.
A final decision on a World Trade Organization case over intellectual property rights protection between China and the United States was accepted by the states Friday, with both claiming its arbiter had affirmed their positions.