On thing that the G8 leaders, meeting in Japan, seem to have agreed on
is that intellectual property is a jolly good thing. So good in fact
that they want it better protected.Speculation is rife, including in
the Guardian, that they want to ratify an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade
Agreement (Acta), which will empower border control agencies to search
for intellectual property infringement. It is claimed that this may
give customers officers the power to search individual users' laptops
and MP3 players for illegal downloads.A quick look at the Report of the
G8 Intellectual Property Experts’ Group Meeting reveals other issues on
the agenda. The group reaffirms its commitment to the merits of a 'well
functioning and efficient' IP system. and outlines the following
measures:1. Advancing our anti-counterfeiting and piracy initiatives2.
Facilitating an efficient and fully functioning IP system conducive to
economicdevelopment (including patent law harmonisation)3. Promoting
the benefits of IPR as a development tool of economy andinnovation4.
Enhancing Cooperation with emerging economies through the
HeiligendammProcessThe IPKat is rather suspicious of anything which is
so wholeheartedly in favour of IP, without mentioning the need to
balance between the rights of owners, competitors and users, though he
suspects anything so detailed would be beyond the ambit of a general
summit of world leaders. As for individuals being stopped at customs,
the IPKat reckons this would be too costly and time consuming to do on
a large scale.

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Posted By Ilanah to IPKat - news and fun for everyone! on 7/11/2008
04:33:00 PM