Brussels, 14/12/2009 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and its 27 member states have ratified the two treaties of the World's Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). One is on copyright and the other is on Interpretation, Execution, and Phonograms. In a press release Commissioner McCreevy declared, “ Today is an important day for the European Union and its Member States and WIPO… These two treaties brought protection up to speed with modern technologies. As the technological evolution accelerates, protecting creators and creative industries is more urgent than ever.” The 2001/29/EC Directive on the harmonisation of certain aspects of copyright law and related rights is aligned on the two treaties.
At the beginning of December, during a conference organised by the International Association for Brands, the Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market (OHIM) and WIPO signed an agreement on the classification of trademarks. This protocol of understanding aims to promote direct and uniform access to procedures on brands by way of the setting up of a common and multilingual list of products and services requiring protection. (M.B.)