R&D Spending and Patenting in the Technology Hardware Sector in Nations With and Without Fair Use
[Mike Palmedo] This post uses two common indicators of innovation to see how the technology hardware sector compares in countries with and without fair use. It illustrates that research and development spending by firms in these industries has been higher in countries with fair use, controlling for other firm- and country-level factors. It then shows more patents have been granted to the technology sector in countries that have adopted fair use, relative to patents granted to firms in the same industries in other countries, controlling for other country-level factors. Click here for more.
CIS-India Letter to Members of Parliament on Concerns on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
[Anubha Sinha] The Centre for Internet and Society sent a letter to Members of Parliament on July 27, 2016 to appeal to re-examine the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – To The Hon’ble Chief Minister / Member of Parliament: We are writing to you to draw your attention to the concerns related to India’s engagement in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a mega-regional trade agreement (MRTA), currently under negotiation. We write as part of a forum on free trade agreements (FTAs), which is a network of over 80 civil society organisations and concerned individuals from across India. It came together in 2008 to analyse the impacts of India’s FTAs on people’s lives & livelihoods. Click here for more.
See also: See also: Joe Matthew for Business Today. Civil society groups coalition to oppose mega trade deals in Asia Pacific region. Link.
MSF Calls for Affordable Pneumonia Vaccines Ahead of Pfizer’s Patent Hearing in India
[Médecins Sans Frontières] Tomorrow Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) will defend the rights of millions of children around the world to be protected against pneumonia at a hearing at India’s Patent Office. In March the organisation filed a ‘patent opposition’ to prevent US pharmaceutical company Pfizer from getting a patent on the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13), so more affordable versions can become available to developing countries and humanitarian organisations. Click here for more.
Photographer sues Getty Images for Selling Photos She Donated to Public
[Cyrus Farivar] A well-known American photographer has now sued Getty Images and other related companies—she claims they have been wrongly been selling copyright licenses for over 18,000 of her photos that she had already donated to the public for free, via the Library of Congress. … According to the suit, Getty and its affiliates have not only sold unauthorized licenses of Highsmith’s photos, but they have sent threatening letters to people that they believe have infringed the copyright. One of those recipients was Highsmith’s own non-profit group, the This is America! Foundation. The copyright enforcement entity, License Compliance Services, demanded $120 in payment. Click here for more on Ars Technica.
