CJEU Ruling in Doke & Soulier Case Emphasizes the Need for a Real Solution to the Out-of-Commerce Problem

[Paul Keller] Last week the CJEU handed down another judgement dealing with digital activities of libraries (see our take on the e-lending decision from 2 weeks ago here). In its judgement in the Doke & Soulier case (C 301/15) the court ruled that the French law on out-of-print books, which allows French publishers to publish digital editions of out-of-print books, violates the exclusive rights of authors as established by the InfoSoc directive. This means that the French scheme for making out-of-print books available (reLire) will either need to be modified or scrapped. Click here for more.

Intellectual Property and Access to Science and Culture: Convergence or Conflict?

[CEIPI] The Centre for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) is very pleased to announce the publication of the third issue in the CEIPI/ICTSD series on Global Perspectives and Challenges for the Intellectual Property System, produced jointly with the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD). The new issue, “Intellectual Property and Access to Science and Culture: Convergence or Conflict?”, edited by Professor Christophe Geiger, Director General and Director of the Research Department at the CEIPI, explores the relationship between intellectual property (IP) rights and the right to science and culture. Click here for more.

Antigua & Barbuda: “Suspension of Copyright” on U.S. Intellectual Property If WTO Dispute Remains Unsettled by Year’s End

[Mike Palmedo] Last week, the government of Antigua and Barbuda announced to the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) that it will move forward with the “suspension of copyright on the sale of U.S. intellectual property” by the end of the year if the U.S. does not comply with the DSB’s findings in the long-running dispute regarding online gambling. Click here for more.

Making Creative Commons Licensing Work In Indonesia

[Creative Commons Indonesia] In late 2014, Indonesia amended its copyright law to add several new provisions, including changes having to do with database rights, addressing copyright as an object in a collateral agreement, and making license recordation mandatory. The latter is something that could potentially be an issue with regard to the operation of Creative Commons licenses, as well as other open license in Indonesia. “License recordation” means that licensors (even those publishing their works under Creative Commons) must report their licenses with the Indonesian Copyright Office. If a licensor does not comply with the requirement, the license that they applied on their work will not have any legal effect, and will not be enforceable against third parties. Click here for more.

Universal Access to Medicines, Technologies Essential for Human Well-being, Secretary-General Says, Encouraging Compliance with Health Panel’s Findings

[United Nations] Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the report of the High-level Panel on Access to Medicines — “Promoting Innovation and Access to Health Technologies”, in New York today: Despite great scientific progress, all countries, from the poorest to the most prosperous, are facing challenges related to the costs of many medicines, diagnostics, medical devices and vaccines.  Since rising costs of health technologies can push people into poverty, we have a shared duty to find solutions to ensure access to these technologies for all. Click here for more.