Advocating for a world where intellectual
property law serves the public interest.

PIJIP Res. Paper: “Canada and Israel – Cultivating Fairness of Use”

PIJIP Research Paper no. 2012-04 Author: Meera Nair Abstract: Despite global trends to expand the ambit of copyright, Canada and Israel both show promise in cultivating the principal of fairness when exercising exceptions to copyright. Their journeys were led by their highest courts; each sought to shift the dialogue of exceptions from stringent allowance to […]

Research Works Act Shelved by Sponsors

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that the sponsors of the Research Works Act – Reps. Issa and Maloney – have pledged not to move the legislation forward. The Research Works Act would have prevented government agencies that disburse grants from requiring that peer-reviewed literature resulting from research funded by their grants be made freely […]

February 27, 2012

Infojustice Roundup Intellectual Property and the Public Interest Interagency Committee Hears Testimony for the 2012 Special 301 Report On February 23, the Special 301 Committee held its third annual opening hearing as part of its review of foreign countries’ intellectual property policies. Committee Members from the following agencies were represented: USTR, State, Homeland Security, Commerce, Labor, […]

PIJIP Research Paper: TRIPS-Plus, FTAs and Wikileaks – Fresh Insights on the Implementation and Enforcement of IP Protection in Developing Countries

PIJIP Research Paper no. 2012-03 Author: Mohammed El Said Abstract: Leaked diplomatic cables related to the United States’ foreign policy implementing and enforcing intellectual property in developing countries draw a bleak picture. U.S. interest groups and local agents collaborate to achieve higher levels of intellectual property protection without taking into consideration the public interest and […]

Protests at Novartis Shareholder Meeting Ask Company to Drop Its Challenge to Section 3(d) of Indian Patent Law

On February 28, the Indian Supreme Court had been scheduled to hear arguments in Novartis’ challenge to the patentability criteria of the Indian Patents Act. On the 27th, PharmaBiz.com reported that the hearing may be delayed until some time in March.) Novartis’ challenge centers around section 3D, which does not allow the granting of a […]

Reactions to De Gucht’s Announcement that EC Has Sent ACTA to European Court of Justice

On February 22, EC Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht announced that the Commission has referred ACTA to the European Court of Justice. The court has been asked “to assess whether ACTA is incompatible – in any way – with the EU’s fundamental rights and freedoms, such as freedom of expression and information or data protection […]