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Intellectual Property

Chinese Silicon Valley Investments a Risk for Startups

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 30, 2018 Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

Various interviews and publicly available information have shown that more than 20 venture capital firms in Silicon Valley have close ties to Beijing and other state-owned funding entities. However, the increasing hard stance of the US government against Chinese acquisitions may make it more difficult for startups to procure funding. Former CFIUS member and attorney Stephen Heifetz says that the current perception is that a lot of the tech transfer that the US government is worried about is being done in the startup world. It is said that President Donald Trump does not intend to clamp down on Chinese technology […]

Huawei Hits Back at US Lawmakers Over Research Funding

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 29, 2018 Cybersecurity, Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

Huawei’s rotating chairman Eric Xu hit back at several US lawmakers who called the company’s contribution to the research funding of over 50 American universities a “significant threat” to national security. Xu scathingly remarked that US congressmen Marco Rubio and Jim Banks had been “ill-informed” and are being “closed-minded”. The congressmen added in their open letter that Huawei’s Innovation Research Program were a core part of “China’s toolkit for foreign technology acquisition”. Xu added that the lawmakers showed not just ignorance of how science and innovation presently works, but also their lack of confidence in the U.S.’ competitiveness. Source: Reuters

Trump to Use Review Panel to Deal with Chinese Tech Investments

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 28, 2018 Cybersecurity, Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

US president Donald Trump says that his administration will task a national security review panel to screen Chinese tech investments for possible threats, instead of imposing restrictions. The Treasury Department recommended the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for the task. The committee, whose authority has been enhanced by new legislation in Congress, will be well-poised to control transactions and address security concerns. The move is said to be a softer approach to curbing Chinese investments pushed by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. However, other senior Trump advisers are still arguing for harsher, China-specific curbs that invoke emergency […]

Instagram Star Admits to Using Stock as Own Work

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 23, 2018 Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

Singapore-based photographer Daryl Aiden recently issued an apology after admitted to uploading stock image library content as his work. News site Mothership caught Aiden uploading images from Shutterstock, CanStockPhoto, Unsplash.com and other stock photo sites. Some were merely edited to alter their colour and composition. The popular Instagram photographer who already has more than 104,000 followers has already worked with brands such as Sony, Oppo, and Uniqlo. On the issue, global technology editor for Campaign UK magazine Emily Tan remarked that no brand is completely safe when working with an influencer, just as no brand ambassador can be guaranteed […]

EU Parliament Votes to Retain Copyright Rules

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 22, 2018 Emerging Media, Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

The European Parliament last Wednesday voted in favor of keeping tougher copyright rules which could significantly restrict the market power of tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Proposed two years ago, the EU’s Copyright Directive was intended to foist more responsibility on online platforms, forcing them to share profits with publishers as well as bear liability for copyright infringement online. The Parliament’s decision was said to have been lauded by copyright holders. However, dissenting lawmakers may still force a vote at the general assembly next month. Source: Reuters

EU Copyright Directive Draws Criticisms from Internet Luminaries, Lawmakers

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 21, 2018 Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

Several lawmakers and key figures in the tech industry voiced their criticisms this week against Europe’s copyright reforms which may compel companies such as Google and Microsoft to pay publishers and take on liability for internet content. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales said that mandatory upload filters could become the basis for further invasive monitoring of all internet content, while new types of exclusive rights may discourage people from sharing content online. Wales, along with World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, net neutrality expert Tim Wu and internet pioneer Vint Cerf had already written a letter to Parliament president Antonio Tajani […]

Anti-Article 13 Messages Spread on Vulnerable Internet TVs

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 15, 2018 Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

A protester going by the handle “Cyber Anakin” had reportedly flashed anti-Article 13 messages on unsecured television set-top boxes this week. The message urged EU citizens to stop Article 13 which may take away their right to share memes. According to a recent open letter by a number of experts, the Copyright Directive will transform the tool for the automated surveillance and control of its users, The European Parliament is set to vote on the motion, which was introduced by the by German lawmaker Axel Voss, sometime next week. Source: ZDNet

Experts Say EU Copyright Law Could End Memes

By Disini & Disini Law Office June 12, 2018 Data Privacy, Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

Experts said this week that the EU’s proposed Copyright Directive, which the Parliament is set to vote on later this month, may soon make memes illegal. Memes, which are often humorous copies of slightly varied content, as well as remixes and other user generated content may soon be filtered as Article 13 of the directive will seek to compel platform providers to “take measures to ensure the functioning of agreements concluded with rights-holders for the use of their works”. Jim Killock, executive director of the UK’s Open Rights Group, said that Article 13 takes a “Robocop” approach where anything that […]

Music Streaming Overtakes Physical Sales and Downloads for the First TIme

By Disini & Disini Law Office April 25, 2018 Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

According to industry body IFPI’s Global Music Report 2018, revenues from online streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music have overtaken sales from physical media and digital downloads for the first time. IFPI further reported that the global recorded music industry is now enjoying its third year of positive revenue growth because of streaming services, with total recording music revenues rising to 8.1% this year at $17.3 billion. Stu Bergen of the Warner Music Group says that the adoption of paid music streaming services helps the market reach new regions of the world while weaning a generation of music fans […]

IT Council Opposes Tariffs, Urges Trump Administration to Build Alliances

By Disini & Disini Law Office April 10, 2018 Intellectual Property, News 0 comments

Last Monday, the Information Technology Industry Council sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin calling the administration to build an international coalition to challenge China’s unfair trade practices, instead of focusing on tariffs. ITIC president Dean Garfield said that while it supports the Trump’s “Section 301” investigation into China’s abuses of intellectual property, they believe that tariffs do not work and instead advocated for a US-led coalition that can travel to China and pressure Beijing into a more “balanced, fair, and reciprocal trade relationship.” ITIC also said that China has abused its privileges as a WTO member […]

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