In January 2006, the Patent Office of Chennai rejected the patent application by Novartis for patent of the drug Gleevec (chemically known as imatinib mesylate). Since then till date, the Novartis saga has prompted numerous headlines and scores of commentaries. What is so unique about the entire controversy? After all, aren’t patent applications rejected by […]
It is virtually impossible to prohibit users from uploading any type of video on YouTube, including uploading parts or all of a musicians’ music video. Even when artists request YouTube take down their videos because of copyright issues, new videos are uploaded the following day. Sharing amateur and professional videos on YouTube has been phenomenally […]
India, which followed the approach of process patenting to pharmaceuticals switched over to product patenting by way of an amendment in 2005 in order to be in consonance with the TRIPs agreement. However, India also used the flexibility offered by the WTO rules, which while setting a minimum standard for patent protection, restrained from defining […]
Although the imagery of the article from which this post takes it’s title, is hilarious; turn our movie theatres into war zones, with metal detectors, pat-downs, and night-vision goggles, while security at our schools and universities remains lax, I believe that despite the movie industry’s use of James Bond-esque technology, this may not be the […]
Admittedly, I cannot recall the last time I purchased a music CD but I do have a half empty box of blank CDs on my bookcase. I also have an iPod that I use regularly to stave off the monotony of my commute. The current Private Copying Levy allows people like me to actively download […]
The private copying levy is enforced by the Copyright Board of Canada where a levy is imposed on purchases of audio recording medium within the meaning of Section 79 of the Copyright Act. The Canadian recording industry strongly pushed for this levy to be extended to the MP3 player devices and in 2004 legislation was […]
I agree that the “predator” patent trolls can be potential lethal to companies who make and sell products, but I do not agree that their function is futile or unethical. The strongest argument against patent trolls is that they have not contributed to the inventions on which they claim patent infringement. They have, however, usually […]
In its October 25th, 2006 Annual Report, the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) announced its intention to implement special legislation to protect the Olympic brand and to prevent ambush marketing of its sponsors for the period leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics. As a result, on June 22, 2007, Bill C-47, the Olympic and Paralympic […]
The Uniform Dispute Resolution Process (UDRP) established by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has attracted comment from people ranging from specialists in the field to the average curious mind wanting to be heard. In his comment, Oscar S. Cisneros while acknowledging the advantages of setting up a dispute resolution process in […]
The issue in dispute deals with a user of the popular online game, Second Life, who exploited a flaw in Linden Lab’s online auctions. Marc Bragg used the flaw to purchase virtual land at well below market value and as a response Linden Lab seized his virtual land and shut down his account. This case […]