IPTango

Wednesday, 23 June 2010

Brazil: billion dollar damages for improper use of software – will the Superior Court of Justice uphold the first instance decision?

Patricia Covarrubia June 23, 2010 No comments:

The Third Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) is hearing an appeal with the aim of changing compensation for inappropriate use of software that can reach the value of $ 1 billion - one of the highest ever of its kind in Brazil. The decision came from the Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJSP), which held that Rede Brasileira de Educação a Distância S/C Lta has breached the Centro de Estratégia Operacional Propaganda e Publicidade S/C Ltda’s intellectual property rights.

The Rede Brasileira has been accused of using, without authorization, a software authored by researchers from the Centro de Estratégia and distributing it to 10 Brazilian universities and 33 foreign universities. This, according to the news, represents access to the software of approximately 17,000 teachers and 190,000 students.

On one hand, the defence, asking the STJ to reduce the amount of the damages, asserted that "the amount escape all the standards already required in the context of justice." On the other hand, the Centro de Estratégia Operacional Propaganda e Publicidade S/C Ltda claims that the amount of compensation is calculated based on the universe of people who may have had access to the software.

Minister Sydney Benet, from the STJ, proposed in his vote, to form a committee of arbitration to make a calculation of the compensation more in line with reality. While I am not familiar with IP finance and the system of monetary compensation, I like the reasoning of Mr Benet. At the end of the day, I believe that the ‘reality’ check should be about market return and so, the actual compensation and not a theoretical one. Any thoughts?

Perú: Proyecto de Ley de Protección de datos

Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella Martinez June 21, 2010 No comments:

Oscar Montezuma (Miranda y Amado Abogados) nos ha hecho llegar información muy interesante acerca del Proyecto de Ley de protección de datos personales, recientemente aprobado por el Ministerio de Justicia, y que se está discutiendo en el Congreso del Perú.

Como cuenta Oscar, una Ley de protección de datos personales constituye un complemento para el desarrollo del comercio y otras iniciativas interesantes como la notificación electrónica y los expedientes digitales. Además, resulta necesario la adopción de un marco normativo integral (y no sólo sectorial) que otorgue protección a sus ciudadanos sobre su información personal en consonancia con la tendencia internacional sobre la materia.

Aquí un interesante artículo de Oscar sobre la cuestión en su blog Blawyer. Tambien, si lo preferís, lo podeis ver en video.

PILA Network: IP Management in Latin American Higher Education Institutions

Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella Martinez June 21, 2010 No comments:

The PILA Network is a project co-financed by the European Union, in the framework of the ALFA III programme, and is composed of higher education institutions (HEIs) from 18 different Latin American countries.

Its aim is to foster the modernisation and strategic planning of knowledge transfer and intellectual property management practices in Latin American Higher Education institutions. For this purpose, among other activities, the Network has as analyse the level of IP awareness in Latin American HEIs to obtain a detailed picture of the situation. Between February and July 2009, the PILA project partners interviewed a total of 145 Universities in 18 Latin American countries. The results have been aggregated and analysed by countries, and the country reports have been published in Spanish on the PILA website.The reports discuss the levels of IP awareness and use among the HEIs interviewed, as well as the principal challenges on national, institutional, cultural, strategic, operational, financial and human levels.

Further information about the PILA Network by Alexandra Mayr in IPR Bulletin.

México: modificaciones en legislación de propiedad industrial

Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella Martinez June 20, 2010 1 comment:

Según nos cuenta nuestro incondicional informador Juan Angel Garza Vite (Universidad de Nueva León, Mexico), el día 18 de Junio de 2010 se publicó en el Diario Oficial de la Federación de México el Decreto por el que se reforman y adicionan diversos artículos de la Ley de la Propiedad Industrial.

Este decreto incluye varias modificaciones de interés: una definición más complementativa de lo que es el concepto de aplicación industrial, la manifestación expresa de adjuntar la información que ejemplifique la aplicación industrial del invento, el derecho de oponerse a la solicitud de invención durante 6 meses después de la publicación de dicha invención en la Gaceta de Propiedad Industrial del IMPI, cualquier perjudicado podrá presentar al IMPI manifestaciones para que éste pueda iniciar un procedimiento administrativo de oficio, entre otras más.

CERLALC: Base de datos de legislación y jurisprudencia

Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella Martinez June 18, 2010 1 comment:

Con esta entrada, en IP Tango queremos llamar la atención sobre el encomiable trabajo que Ricardo Antequera Parilli y el resto de miembros de CERLALC (Centro Regional para el Fomento del Libro en América Latina y el Caribe) están haciendo, con el apoyo de UNESCO, con su base de datos de legislación nacional, instrumentos internacionales y jurisprudencia.

La parte de legislación incluye vínculos a todas las leyes de los países iberoamericanos (incluyendo España y Portugal). Pero lo más interesante es la selección de sentencias que alberga, las cuales no se limitan a Iberoamérica sino que también recoge decisiones de países como Francia, Reino Unido o Alemania traducidas al castellano. En muchos casos dichas sentencias vienen acompañadas de comentarios elaborados por expertos en la materia.

Un trabajo encomiable de muchisima utilidad para académicos y profesionales del Derecho de la propiedad intelectual. Aquellas personas interesadas en colaborar en el proyecto pueden escribir a Aurelio (aurelio (at) ua.es) que les pondrá en contacto con los responsables del mismo.

Brazil Suspends Trade Sanctions Against The US Until 2012

José Carlos Vaz e Dias June 18, 2010 No comments:

The Brazilian Foreign Board (CAMEX) – the agency that encompasses the ministers entitled to tailor the foreign trade policy – gathered late today and approved an agreement with the United States, which suspended until 2012 the applicability of commercial sanctions against the US subsidies to cotton producers.

Both governments will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a new set of negotiations, consultations and reforms until the US government finalize the elaboration of a new agricultural law by 2012.

The MOU further establishes the American government’s commitment to create a fund of US$ 147 million to support Brazilian cotton producers. Moreover, the discussions with the Americans up to 2012 will involve the determination of a maximum cap for government’s expenditures and subsidies to the US cotton producers. This cap has not been settled yet, since it will require the prior approval of the American government, but it is expected that it will not surpass the amount spent between 1999 and 2005.

In case the Americans do not fulfil the terms and conditions of the MOU, Brazil may re-initiate the process of trade retaliation. The main objective of the MOU is to seek a mutual and satisfactory understanding between the countries without refraining Brazil from using its trade weapons, if needed.

It is believed that the suspension of the retaliations aims to greatly reduce the existing friction between the Brazilian diplomacy and the Americans, which has recently deteriorated due to the Brazilian opposition of sanctions against the Iranian government.

More information will be passed soon.

The EU and Ecuador – taking more time for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA)?

Patricia Covarrubia June 17, 2010 No comments:

The three days of talks between representatives of Ecuador and the EU arrived to an end - re: FTA. Yesterday was the last meeting and the conclusion was...well, according to the El Comercio newspaper, “there was no definition or resumption of negotiations between both parties.”

The EU head negotiator, Gaspar Frontini, said that there were some sensitive matters that found clarification, but there were others that need to continue exchanging information. This, he continues, will be done throughout the month of July.

As mentioned in an early post, in a previous meeting there were three themes that were classified as sensitive: intellectual property, government procurement and services. Yet, the director for Latin America at the EU Commission, Gustavo Martín Prada, said that there are no points that may be unworkable.

Gaspar Frontini and Mr Prada met yesterday with the Ecuadorian media where they explained that “the dialogue of these three days have been constructive and satisfactory”.

What lies ahead? According to the note, the Ecuadorian President and the authorities of the EU need to analyse what has been said in these meetings. Then, as mentioned they will continue to discuss whether they will start with the negotiations (I suppose this is something like negotiating if they are going to negotiate??).

I would like to finish today with the Doris Day lyrics, and please I am not intending to be ironic or sarcastic, but I just felt that the negotiation sound very much like the song:
“Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.”

Waka waka chorus – who is the author?

Patricia Covarrubia June 17, 2010 1 comment:

The official theme of the 2010 South African World Cup is under debate. The singer and songwriter, Wilfrido Vargas, accused Shakira of plagiarism for the use of the chorus of his song titled “ el negro no puede' in the ‘wake waka’ song – the official theme of the 2010 World Cup.

The chorus ‘waka waka' became famous in 1982, in the voices of a Dominican band called ‘las chicas del Can’ (the 'Sugar Babes' of the time) by the musician Wilfrido Vargas, who composed the song ‘el negro no puede’ and included a chorus:
“Zamina mina he he. Waka Waka ee e. Zamina mina zaaangaléwa. Ana wam a a, yango e e, yango ee e. Zamina mina zaaangaléwa. Ana wam a a”

You can hear the chorus here - by ‘las chicas del can’, and here by Shakira.

The question is who copy who? Or, who owns any rights over the chorus?
According to the news, in early May, FIFA announced that it had chosen the theme "Waka Waka", explaining that the chorus was based on a Cameroon song. It continues explaining that the song ‘waka waka’ is old as the people of Africa and that the unique name Zangalewa belongs to the popular song of Cameroon. Also, in 1986, a band from Cameroon called ‘Golden Sounds’ launched its version of "Zangalewa" and became very popular.

Although Shakira has twice been accused of plagiarism, there has never been any legal proceeding against her. Could this time be the one? Looking at the info, I do not think so. I guess Shakira can answer with her song ‘where are the thieves?'

A litte bit of gossip
For those of you who are seeking to know which ones were the other two songs, I will give you more info. Actually, I do remember both songs and saying to myself...this is like x.

1.- "Hips Do not Lie." – who can forget this song, or Shakira dancing it! Do you remember Jerry Rivera and his song ‘Amores como el nuestro’... the tune arrangement played by the solo - trumpet? Exactly the same.
2.- "Hips Do not Lie." The Dominican singer and writer, Luis Días, also accused Shakira for taking the chorus ‘baila la calle de noche, baila la calle de dia’ from his song titled ‘baila la calle’.

I really enjoy today written this post and searching/listening all the info about the songs. Latin music - salsa, merengue, ron, domino, football, weather, food; these all make me feel home sick. What a wonderful culture we have.

Rio 2007: can moral damage be presumed or must it be proved?

Jeremy June 16, 2010 No comments:

Although soccer World Cup ambush marketing is currently getting plenty of publicity, it is the Rio Pan American Games in 2007 which is the focal point of a recent piece of Brazilian litigation -- the Court of Appeals for the State of Rio de Janeiro has upheld a damages award in a trade mark infringement action brought by the Rio Pan American Games Organizing Committee against a taxi cooperative which used the RIO 2007 word and design trade mark without authorization.

According to the trial court, the cooperative infringed. The court awarded damages based on the royalty the cooperative would have paid, had it been a licensee of the Committee. The Committee also sought “moral damages” (compensation for harm to the Committee’s reputation) and it was against that court's refusal to award damages under this head of claim that the appeal was lodged.

Dismissing the appeal, the Court of Appeals said there was no proof of reputational harm. This decision is said to be at odds with recent decisions of the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice. According to that court, specific proof of reputational harm is not required in the case of trade mark infringement because damage to reputation may be presumed.

Source: INTA Bulletin, vol.65, no.11

Ecuador and the EU looking forward to a Trade Agreement – again

Patricia Covarrubia June 15, 2010 No comments:

Ecuador and the EU return to a dialogue. Ecuador left 11 months ago the discussions that had begun the EU with four Andean countries (Andean block) regarding a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) - Peru and Colombia recently signed a FTA with the EU.

The delegates from the European Union and Ecuador are holding three days meeting with the aim of establish an agreement to develop trade between the two. The first meeting was held yesterday (14/06) where a general review of texts was looked at so as to identify the difficulties in initiating negotiations. It was determined that there are indeed three sensitive issues and so they should have a deeper analysis. They are: intellectual property, government procurement and services.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade, Galo Borja, said that the meeting was "satisfactory because it was an open dialogue". He mentioned that there is not yet a negotiation team but if the meetings are successful, the negotiations will begin in Geneva.

In this line, Ecuador's chief negotiator, Ambassador Mentor Villagomez, explains that the meetings of these three days are not negotiations but joint assessments to see the real possibilities of negotiation.

The result would be known tomorrow, Wednesday 16.

Some IPTango moves

* Listed as one of the "Best blogs on Intellectual and Industrial Property Law". The University of Alicante Intellectual Property & Information Technology Project (UAIPIT).

* One of the only two Latin American blog listed in the "Top 100 Intellectual Property Blogs". Feedspot, as of May 2021.

* Listed as one of the "Top 15 Blogs For An Intellectual Property (IP) Enthusiasts". Buzzfeed.com, January 2017.

* Listed as one of the "World's Best IP Blogs". BananaIP.com, December 2015.

* IPTango founder Professor Jeremy Phillips was listed as one of the Managing Intellectual Property magazine's "Fifty Most Influential People" of 2005, 2011, 2013, and 2014.

* Listed as one of the "Influential intellectual property blawgs". A Dictionary of Intellectual Property Law, Peter Groves, 2011.

* Listed as one of the "Communities of Blawgers". Los blogs jurídicos y la web 2.0. para la difusión y la enseñanza del derecho, Gonzalo Ramírez Cleves, 2010.