Access to Knowledge

WIPO publishes scoping study scoping study on the impact of the digital environment on copyright legislation

Posted on by Thiru

On Thursday, 26 October 2017, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published a scoping study (SCCR/35/4) on the impact of the digital environment on copyright legislation adopted between 2006 and 2016; the author of this study is Guilda Rostama, Ph.D. The mandate for this study emanates from a proposal of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States (GRULAC) first tabled at the 31st session of WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) in December 2015. At SCCR33 in November 2016, WIPO Member States agreed to the following:

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WIPO General Assembly 2017: Statement of Chile on the Report on the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)

Posted on by Thiru

On Wednesday, 4 October 2017, Chile delivered the following statement on the Report on The Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) at the WIPO General Assembly.

Gracias Sr. Presidente.

Quisiéramos felicitar el trabajo que el Comité de Patentes está llevando en temas diversos y balanceados, que han permitido su funcionamiento a lo largo de estos últimos años, privilegiando el diálogo técnico y experto sobre los diferentes puntos de la agenda.

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KEI’s opening statement at WIPO’s 2017 General Assembly focuses on role of Chief Economist

Posted on by James Love

This was delivered the afternoon on October 3, 2017.

Opening statement of Knowledge Ecology International – WIPO General Assembly 2017

Thank you, Mr. Vice President.

KEI notes the controversies around the world regarding the costs and benefits of intellectual property policies, including in particular extended terms of copyright protection in some countries, access to copyrighted works out of commerce and in teaching and research, and the role of patents in both promoting and discouraging innovation, and creating barriers to access medicine.

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KEI comments at July 25, 2017 civil society stakeholder forum at the 19th round of the RCEP negotiation

Posted on by James Love

These are the notes I used when providing the KEI comments at the July 25, 2017 civil society stakeholder forum at the 19th round of the RCEP negotiation.

My name is James Love. I work for Knowledge Ecology International, an NGO that focuses on the social aspects to the production, management and control of knowledge goods. I am also a member of the board of directors of the Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment.

The IP Chapter is complex, and in the time allocated, I will discuss five issues.

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SCP26 – Agreement reached on future work reached at WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (6 July 2017)

Posted on by Thiru

On Thursday afternoon, 6 July 2017, the 26th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP), chaired by Ms. Bucura Ionescu (Romania) reached agreement on future work on the following issues: i) Exceptions and Limitations to Patent Rights, ii) Quality of Patents, including Opposition Systems, iii) Patents and Health, iv) Confidentiality of Communications between Clients and Their Patent Advisors and v) Transfer of Technology. Continue Reading →

SCCR 34 Discussions on Limitations and Exceptions for people with other disabilities

Posted on by Manon Ress

May 4, 2017 SCCR 34 Discussion on Limitations and Exceptions for people with other disabilities

If the final text of the Marrakesh Treaty had included Article 15(b) of the 1st version of the treaty negotiating text (SCCR/18/5) that would have clearly covered “other disabilities”, we would not have had the morning discussion.

Here is what had been drafted with the approval of an inclusive group of disabilities experts:

ARTICLE 15. DISABILITIES COVERED

(a) For the purposes of this Treaty, a ‘visually impaired’ person is:

a person who is blind; or
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SCCR 34 Chair’s proposal regarding the committee’s work on L&E and member states comments

Posted on by Manon Ress

SCCR 34 May 3. Chair’s proposal regarding the committee’s work on L&E and member states comments

In brief:

  • The Chair supports an update of the Crews Study
  • The Chair proposes a seminar or conference with multidisciplinary approach to L&Es in the digital environment (instead of separated “silos” such as are now L&Es for Libraries and Education

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SCCR 34 NGOs on Limitations and Exceptions for libraries and archives

Posted on by Manon Ress

May 3, 2017 AM Session. SCCR 34 Limitations and Exceptions for libraries and archives

NGOs statements

IFLA presented its proposal for future work:

  • a draft model law
  • an updated searchable database of exceptions and limitations for libraries, archives and museums
  • a study on issues related to limitations and exceptions for libraries, archives and museums and a cross-border context including digital uses.

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