European Parliament adopts unitary patent rules
On 11 December 2012, the MEPs approved the EU patent package.
EU patent package is composed of three legislations: the regulation that introduces the system of a unitary patent, the rules regarding the translation of European patents and the international agreement creating a unified patent court. The idea of a unitary European patent was already being aired in 1957, while the latest attempt for its realization was put forward in 2004, but sunk by disagreement on language issues. These were apparently problematic also in the current package, as Italy and Spain rejected entering the system of a unitary patent. The unitary patent will be available in English, German and French. Regardless, the MEPs presented the package, that will enter into force on 1 January 2014 or after thirteen contracting states ratify it, as a great success, which will reduce the costs of obtaining patent protection on EU levels up to 80%. This system will be able to compete with the American and Japanese system, where patent protection was cheaper than in the EU.
Source: Press release of the European Parliament, Questions and Answers.
On 23rd of November, 2021, the European Commission has published two reports in the field of copyright, as required by Directives 2014/26/EU (CRM Directive) and 2019/790 (DSM Directive). They are supported by two studies: Study on emerging issues on collective licensing management in the digital environment, and Study on selected issues relating to the application of the CRM Directive.
A new book “Law and Artificial Intelligence: Issues of Ethics, Human Rights and Social Harm” was published (Institute of Criminology at the Faculty of law in Ljubljana, 2021), the editors of which are prof. dr. Aleš Završnik and dr. Katja Simončič. The author of one of the articles is also dr. Maja Bogataj Jančič, LL.M., LL.M., who wrote an article on the topic of whether artificial intelligence can be an author of a copyright work.
Jožef Štefan Institute is organising GO-DIP workshop series, first of them coming on November 19th, 2021 is revolving around software IP and data agreements. The GO-DIP project aims to increase the competencies of knowledge generators and intermediaries. At 15.10 dr. Maja Bogataj Jančič, LL.M., LL.M. will be lecturing in the Workshop: Development of a checklist for model digital IP agreements. Welcome!
2nd GPAI Summit will occur from 11-12 November, 2021 in Paris, France. Leading international AI experts from civil society, academia, industry and governments, including ministerial-level delegates from GPAI’s Membership, will come together for GPAI’s annual event. This public-facing event will include reporting on the ten Working Groups’ study topics, including the reporting of Data Governance Working Group (DG WG). Public conferences will be broadcasted live on GPAI’s Youtube channel. Welcome!