As reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, NSW police recently raided a number of premises in order to disrupt a pirating ring producing counterfeit DVDs and CDs. The five raids followed months of investigations by the police and entertainment industry organizations. See also the account in the Australian.

Labels: Australia, Copyright News

Representatives from the European Patent Office (EPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO) and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently met to address shortfalls in the international patent system and to discuss reforms. Representatives of industry groups , the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO and WIPO also participated in the conference. One question which arose was how to reconcile the two systems currently in operation between the Trilateral members – the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) agreements. IPwatch reported that Dr Gurry, head of WIPO, indicated his support of the PCT, suggesting that the PPH lacked ‘systemic benefit’. The Trilateral participants agreed to support initiatives of the IP5 group (consisting of the EPO, JPO, USPTO and the Korean and the Chinese intellectual property offices) and though agreeing to continue to develop the PPH, acknowledging that the PCT was to remain the principal patent application system. View the EPO account of the conference and see the EPO press release.

Labels: Conferences, Copyright News, Domain Name News, Patent News

The US challenged China on three counts:

• No copyright protection for works that have not been approved by censors
• Thresholds for the prosecution of pirated goods so high that ineffective
• Unsatisfactory disposal by authorities of pirated goods.

The US was unsuccessful on the second count. The International Herald Tribune reported that China criticized the US for pursuing these claims, saying that it could ‘damage trade relations’. The US has reportedly recently filed a further claim against China. See also a Reuters' article for further details.

Labels: China, Copyright News, United States