China widens lead in global patent filings

Global patent filings were up nine per cent in 2013 from the previous year, while double-digit growth in first-place China widened its lead in patent filings from the United States and other countries, according to the World Intellectual Property Association (WIPO).

In a Tuesday release, WIPO said China now accounts for nearly a third, 32.1 per cent, of the world total of patent filings, followed by the United States at 22.3 per cent and Japan at 13 per cent.

Canada ratifies WIPO copyright, music treaties

Canada ratified two World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties on copyright and music licensing earlier this month, according to the WIPO website.

The treaties modify the existing Copyright Modernization Act and relate to making-available rights, distribution rights and Internet rights for copyrighted works and music, and will come into effect on Aug. 13.

U.S. music creators to face limited payment rights in Canada

The government of Canada plans to limit the remuneration rights of music creators in the United States, among other countries, when it ratifies the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), which was adopted in late 1996.

A March 1 entry in the Canada Gazette said there will be limitations for rights holders in the U.S. and several other countries that don’t offer similar rights to Canadian rights holders.

The provision would apply to Section 19 of the Copyright Act, the notice said.

WIPO Broadcasting Treaty document proposes webcasting alternative

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)'s new working document for a Broadcasting Treaty includes a reference to online signals, a sticking point at committee discussions in Geneva this summer.