Publications

A comprehensive account of the Stockholm Network`s activties, publications, sponsors and supporters, membership and achievements.

Once seen as a technical issue mostly debated within the circles of information technology geeks and the legal community, the topic of digital rights management (DRM) has now become a mainstream subject in policy and legal debates in Europe, both at the nation state and European Union levels. Why Digital Rights Management looks at the state of the DRM debate in Europe, and asks whether DRM is a legitimate extension of IP owners' rights, and if so, what, if any, response policy makers should have to its growing application.

Reform of the strategic aims behind the Lisbon agenda is required to ensure European businesses do not continue to lag behind the US and the Far East. A new report by the leading think tank, The Stockholm Network, recommends that a 2007 Lisbon Directive is established to monitor progress and provide more measurable goals and timelines.

Having proven its utility in the United Kingdom, the third sector is spreading around Europe; taking examples of success and failures this paper provides an analysis of the Third Sector and demonstrates how it can help public services in their quest for universal health-care.

This month we look at the following topics:

‘Another One Bites the Dust: EU Enforcement of IPRs’, by Dr. Meir P. Pugatch and Helen Disney

‘On DRM’, by Charles Crouch

‘Three Dimensional Objects as Trademarks’ by Amir Friedman

‘International Property Rights Index’ by Scott LaGanga

Forthcoming Publication – Beyond Lisbon – Reviewing EU Policies on IP, Competition and Innovation

Recent Event – Stockholm Network/UNCTAD Debate on Pharmaceutical IPRs

News Flashes

The inaugural edition of the Stockholm Network Energy and Environment Programme`s Newsletter, Climate of Opinion, takes a look at the debate surrounding nuclear power. This edition includes...

Nuclear is an Environmental Necessity – Dr Patrick Moore

Lessons Of Finland`s New Nuclear Build – Pertti Salminen

Nuclear Politics – Sacha Kumaria

Microclimates – Top Stories in Energy and Environment

This paper analyses the tensions between IPRs and competition law. It explains how these tensions play out in the IT sector, where there is a further countervailing policy factor, namely the desirability of ensuring interoperability between different systems. The focus of this paper will be the software industry, but the same policy debates are equally valid in other areas of the IT industry. Mr. Killick finds that European law provides for a careful balancing between the differing policy goals underlying these three topics (IPRs, competition and interoperability): the EU Software Directive contains a careful balance between copyright and interoperability and the IMS test also contains a careful balance between IP on the one hand and competition and interoperability on the other. He concludes that all of these goals have to give way to each other in particular circumstances with a view to ensuring that innovation and competition remain at healthy levels

The Winter 2006/2007 edition of the Eye on Europe

The EU-Russia Centre is an independent information and expertise resource for anyone interested in modern Russia, its democratic status and the future of EU-Russia relations

The Amigo Society conferences, held in Brussels, were set up in 2004 to bring together public policy experts, media representatives and members of civil society to debate these and other issues of importance to an enlarged Europe. Taking concrete examples from all over Europe and North America, this collection examines the broad motivations behind, influences on, and opportunities for future health and welfare policy reform. It also looks to the future – drawing in new fields of policymaking such as biotechnology, tailormade medicines and other technologies expected to drastically alter Europe’s healthcare landscape. And driving it all, the final set of essays examines consumer empowerment as the major factor which will push forward reform of Europe’s health and welfare systems. Unlocking Ideas: Essays from the Amigo Society assembles the highlights of these debates over the past two years and provides exciting new insights for the reformers of the future.