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Month: March 2017

Be careful when choosing territory for copyright litigation

In this case, the Welsh Government, a political subdivision of the United Kingdom, and various media companies were accused of using two photographs depicting the poet Dylan Thomas without authorization and in violation of the Copyright Act. Plaintiffs, owners of the copyrights in these photos, are Pablo Star Ltd. and Pablo Star Media Ltd. (“Plaintiffs”) – two related companies that are “organized and registered under the laws of Ireland and the United Kingdom.”

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Popular Russian “Ural dumplings” lost their trademark in court

“Ural dumplings” are very popular in Russia and their brand is recognizable. Therefore for them it was very important to keep control over trademark. But the last court decision has been concluded not in their favour. “Ural dumplings” LLC filed complaint to Moscow commercial court and asked to admit trademark agreement, concluded with First Hand Media LLC, as null and void. Ural dumplings wanted to get back their trademark.

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Consumers’ FAQs on copyright: when you can use a work protected by copyright created by another?

There has been published a very useful guide for consumers and for anyone who is curious about copyright. This guide explains different things, relating to IP rights, in simple way. The project has been commissioned by the European Union intellectual property office.

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Proposal for directive to implement Marrakesh Treaty throughout EU

The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted in 2013 at the WIPO with the aim of facilitating the availability and cross-border exchange of books and other print material in accessible formats around the world. It was signed by the Union in April 2014. The Treaty requires the parties to provide exceptions or limitations to copyright and related rights for the benefit of blind, visually impaired and otherwise print-disabled persons and allows for the cross-border exchange of special format copies of books, including audio books, and other print material between countries that are parties to the Treaty.

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Russian government allowed forming of interagency commissions for blocking of web-sites in severe cases

Russian government has adopted amendments to one of its decrees concerning the blocking of web-sites. The special interagency commission can be formed if the case is difficult. But amendments also provide certain details in procedure when information in question is to be blocked.

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CTIA’s public comment on collective rights management rules review

The market for music performance rights is not competitive and the Consent Decrees continue today to serve important pro-competitive purposes. Direct licensing is an important check on performance rights organization (“PRO”) market power under the Consent Decrees, but it cannot replace the Consent Decrees due to the high market concentration of the major music publishers and the lack of competition among them.

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Russian Ministry of Culture has shaken film distribution industry

Last year Russian government adopted new amendments to rules for demonstration of movies in cinemas. Under these amendments the permission for demonstration of movies is also necessary for “showing of film by other technical means”. The making available of a film is also included to public performance. Russian MinCult decided to clarify these amendments and published its explanation.

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Russian Roskomnadzor will block web-sites more accurately and faster

Russian Roskomnadzor can receive a power to define the way of blocking for web-sites listed in “black list”. New developed amendments for regulation are intended to protect law-abiding web resources from unjustifiable blocking, for example when two web-sites “reside” on single IP and one of them must be blocked under Russian law, the “innocent” will not be punished together with guilty one.

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