In The News

Microsoft Pact Not Much of a Deal

Jerry Fong 馮震宇 March 11, 2003
US-based Microsoft Corporation, manufacturer of the Windows operating system that runs the majority of computers around the world, has embedded itself more deeply into yet another country. Taiwanese IT companies and IT analysts are not too thrilled about the ROC Fair Trade Commission’s new pact with Microsoft. Jerry Fong, professor of Law at National Chengchi University, highlights major faults...

US Abstains in the War on Tobacco

Derrick Z. Jackson March 10, 2003
Hippocrates vs. hypocrites? Bush’s government ignores “the Hippocratic Oath: Do No Harm”, says columnist Derrick Z. Jackson. The US has already signaled objections to the ‘Framework Convention on Tobacco Control,’ a recent U.N endorsed global treaty that is hoped will stop tobacco from killing 10 million people a year by 2030. Almost everything in the treaty – from state funded anti-tobacco...

Ultraman Copyright: Big Plans after Japan Court Win

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn March 5, 2003
After a seven-year Tokyo court battle, Sompote Saengduenchai, a Thai businessman, won rights to Ultraman in all international markets except Japan. Ultraman has long been considered one of Japan's quintessential superheroes, like America's Superman, but Sompote was involved in designing the character while a student in Japan in the early 1960s. Sompote is now planning Ultraman films,...

Offence to Lodge Patent Outside Singapore First

Angela Tan March 4, 2003
As traditional trade barriers continue to disintegrate, innovators around the world are searching for the next billion-dollar invention that will transform global society. But while some inventors want to patent their products overseas, few realize that they might be committing a crime in the process. The lack of “world patents” means that any invention can be subject to the patent laws of the...

Deal on Setting Up Single European Patent

Francesco Guerrera March 3, 2003
After thirty years of disagreement, governments of the European Union have reached a deal to set up a single European patent. The new patent will be valid in up to 25 nations by the time the agreement takes effect. The deal has been hailed as a testament to the EU’s ability to put aside the differences of member countries in order to shape a European economy that is more competitive globally. –...

U.S. Hackers Told to Leave Iraq Alone

February 14, 2003
The FBI is telling Americans not to hack into and sabotage Iraqi websites. There is a possibility that such patriotic hacking could backfire, doing more harm to U.S. computer systems than to Iraqi systems. Nationalistic ‘cyber wars’ launched by patriotic citizens of one country against websites of other countries are increasing, and the U.S. is now drawing up guidelines to deal with them. In...

By Invitation Only: Cozy Free Trade Deals Subvert Global Integration

Bernard K. Gordon February 13, 2003
Against most predictions, the Bush administration successfully wooed both Singapore and Chile into free trade agreements, with huge perceived benefits for US investors. Paradoxically, this move away from multilateralism and global trade institutions is not in the interest of the US, the world's largest trader. Professor Bernard K. Gordon examines the paradox, and offers some general...