The User Rights Database: Measuring the Impact of Copyright Balance
[Sean Flynn and Mike Palmedo] Few empirical studies analyze the impact of different ways to expand user rights for the digital environment. …One reason for the lack of empirical research on the impact of more open and flexible user rights has been the absence of a tool to measure changes in this variable of the law. To promote additional and enhanced research into the impact of user rights, we created the User Rights Database. The User Rights Database is an open access repository of coded data showing how and when copyright user rights have changed over time in a representative sample of different countries. The twenty-one countries in our database thus far (with more coming), are split evenly between developing and wealthy countries and are representative of every major region and copyright legal family. The data documents changes in user right openness and flexibility in each country over a period stretching from 1970 to 2016. Click here for more.
How Does Malawi’s New Copyright Law Measure Up?
[Electronic Information for Libraries] An EIFL review of Malawi’s Copyright Act of 2016 has found that although the new law permits a range of library activities such as making copies for research and use of works in virtual learning environments, it places big limits on what libraries can do in practice, misses opportunities to enable digital activities, and restricts the making of accessible format copies. The review assesses the Copyright Act from the library perspective. It aims to raise awareness about the law, help librarians understand what the law means for library activities and services in Malawi, and highlight areas for future improvement. Click here for more.
Industry, IP groups flag concerns in out-of-cycle Special 301 review of Colombia
[Inside U.S. Trade] Industry groups are calling on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to elevate Colombia to its list of most egregious intellectual property violators, claiming that Bogota’s IP regime runs afoul of commitments it made in its trade agreement with the U.S. and violates World Trade Organization obligations. In USTR’s annual Special 301 report, released in April, Colombia was listed on what is known as the “watch list,” in addition to being one of three countries selected for an out-of-cycle review. Click here for more.
Se reglamentó la excepción al derecho de autor en beneficio de personas ciegas o con dificultades para el acceso al texto impreso
[Creative Commons Uruguay] El 16 de octubre el Poder Ejecutivo firmó el decreto que reglamenta la excepción al derecho de autor aprobada por el Parlamento en octubre de 2013 en beneficio de personas ciegas o con dificultades para el acceso al texto impreso. Esta reglamentación hace efectivo el Tratado de Marrakech, firmado por nuestro país en 2013 y ratificado al año siguiente. Click here for more.
Health Group Challenges Gilead Patents In The US On Grounds Of Lack Of Novelty
[IP Watch] A health advocacy group today announced that it has challenged a set of United States patents for a hepatitis C medicine. The group says drug maker Gilead Sciences has obtained unmerited patents for sofosbuvir, blocking millions of US patients from affordable treatment. The Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK) filed the first-ever set of US patent challenges against sofosbuvir with the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The group challenged six patents, arguing that sofosbuvir’s patents do not meet patentability criteria such as novelty and non-obviousness, according to a press release. Click here for more.
Copyright Directive: Push for Automated Filters from France, Portugal and Spain
[Statewatch News] France, Portugal and Spain have waded into the debate on the notorious Article 13 of the EU’s proposed Copyright Directive with a proposal that would oblige online content-sharing platforms to introduce mandatory automated filtering of uploads, as originally proposed by the Commission but recently questioned by a number of Member States. The proposal from the three states proposes a number of amendments to the proposed Copyright Directive that would, amongst other things, stop certain content-sharing platforms benefiting from the exclusion for legal liability for uploaded material that is available under Article 14 of the Directive on e-commerce (2001/31/EC). Click here for more.
