Patents: another step forward - EUbusiness Week no 438

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EUbusiness Week - Issue 438
27 March 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com
Your way through the EU information maze
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This Week's Top Stories
=======================
1. EU agrees 'Solvency II' insurance shake-up
2. Agri-Commissioner refuses to budge on milk reforms
3. EU says US online gambling laws against WTO rules
4. Cheaper, shorter European flights under new law
5. EU travellers to get cheaper mobile messages, calls
6. EU court rules Anheuser-Busch cannot register Budweiser

Publisher's Note
================
The Commission's request this week for a negotiating mandate
on the European and Community Patent Court is a welcome step
on the long road to a cost-effective single European patent.

The current patent litigation system is complex, slow and
costly. According to Eurochambres, securing a European
patent in 6 EU countries currently costs EUR 22,000, in 27
Member States around EUR 82,000. A Community Patent would
cost less than EUR 20,000 and be valid in the EU27.

The draft agreement sets out a more predictable, rapid and
less expensive way to settle disputes in relation to
patents. At a time when stimulating innovation,
competitiveness, growth and jobs is more important
than ever, this has to be a good thing.
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/patent-litigation-briefing

Regards,

Nick Prag
Publisher, EUbusiness

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1. EU agrees 'Solvency II' insurance shake-up
---------------------------------------------
The European Union reached a deal on Thursday to shake up
regulation of the insurance sector, the Czech presidency
said after two years of tough negotiations bore fruit.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238092321.69

2. Agri-Commissioner refuses to budge on milk reforms
-----------------------------------------------------
Europe's farm chief has rejected calls from France, Germany
and eastern Europe to revise milk quota reforms agreed last
year that opponents say will hit struggling dairy producers.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237833122.94

3. EU says US online gambling laws against WTO rules
----------------------------------------------------
The Commission said on Thursday that US laws restricting
online gambling went against WTO rules but that Brussels
would seek a negotiated solution to the dispute.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238077021.62

4. Cheaper, shorter European flights under new law
--------------------------------------------------
Euro-MPs have agreed on a bill calling for shorter, cheaper
flights in Europe using up to 11 per cent less fuel and
setting binding targets for the continent's aviation system.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238009522.24

5. EU travellers to get cheaper mobile messages, calls
------------------------------------------------------
European travellers will pay less to send text messages and
access the internet via mobile phone networks, under a
compromise deal thrashed out by EU negotiators on Tuesday.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237901521.19

6. EU court rules Anheuser-Busch cannot register Budweiser
----------------------------------------------------------
A top EU court has ruled that US brewer Anheuser-Busch
cannot register an EU-wide trademark for its Budweiser
brand because of a Czech brewer's previous claims to the
word in Austria and Germany.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237974425.89

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Inside the EU Institutions
==========================

Council Watch
-------------
US recovery plans: the EU's Czech presidency has blasted US
plans to spend hundreds of billions of dollars to revive its
economy as a "way to hell", before downplaying the remark to
avert a diplomatic crisis.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238005022.26
Czech crisis 'complicates' EU Lisbon treaty ratification
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237982521.22
Obama to visit Prague despite political crisis
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238007722.73
http://www.eubusiness.com/European_Council

Commission Watch
----------------
Deficits: the Commission has called on EU countries with big
deficits to rein in their shortfalls but gives them generous
deadlines in which to do so due to the economic crisis.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237906021.81
EU urges Turkey to respect press freedoms
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238089621.89
Barroso slams decision to scrap EU jobs summit
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237977131.91
EU hails Macedonia vote but demands fair second round
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237820522.36
http://www.eubusiness.com/Commission

Euro-Parliament Watch
---------------------
Energy regulation: the EU has taken a small step toward
shaking up regulation of the energy sector with a compromise
deal that would spare gas and power companies from hiving
off their distribution networks.
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237896121.93
Move to stop Le Pen presiding at Parliament
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237997821.56
Hungary to stage Euro elections in June
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238081521.12

At their plenary session this week, MEPs called for an
impact assessment on the feasibility of a Community
instrument on chain liability as a way of increasing
transparency in subcontracting processes; gave the green
light to an EU partnership accord with the Caribbean, with
conditions; and criticised "extensive urbanisation"
practices in Spain.
Texts: http://www.eubusiness.com/Institutions/oeil
http://www.eubusiness.com/Europarl

EU diary
--------
27-28 Mar, Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers
30 Mar, Transport Council
31 Mar, Telecommunications Council
1-2 April, EP Plenary Session
3-4 April, Informal Meeting of Finance Ministers
5 April, EU - USA Summit

The Week Ahead: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/EUcalendar
Long-term diary: http://www.eubusiness.com/events/eu-diary

EUbusiness Community
====================

Policy Forum
------------
Nanomaterials in Cosmetics: BEUC welcomes new regulation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Consumer/beuc-press.09-03-25

CEA welcomes EC support for renewal of elements of the
Insurance Block Exemption Regulation
http://www.eubusiness.com/Finance/cea-press.09-03-25
More Press: http://www.eubusiness.com/press

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Briefing
--------
Single European Telecoms Market 2008 progress report
http://www.eubusiness.com/Telecoms/telecoms.08

Eurobarometer: water quality a serious problem
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/eurobarometer-water.09
More briefings: http://www.eubusiness.com/guides

Events
------
11 May, Prague: Future of the Internet conference
http://www.eubusiness.com/Internet/fi-prague.09

15 Jun, Barcelona: Optimising & Evolving 3G Networks 2009
http://www.eubusiness.com/Members/iir/3G
More events: http://www.eubusiness.com/events

Jobs
----
Communication and Media Officer, European Women's Lobby
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/ebw-job.09-03-18

Senior Lecturer, Europ'n Institute of Public Administration
http://www.eubusiness.com/Jobs/eipa-job.09-03-25
More jobs: http://www.eubusiness.com/jobs

Links
-----
Protection of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes Directive
http://www.eubusiness.com/Rd/animal-research

Faster and cheaper broadband: Commission study
http://www.eubusiness.com/Internet/eu-broadband.08
More links: http://www.eubusiness.com/links

Other news on EUbusiness this week
----------------------------------
Eastern Europe 'faces depression without bailouts' 26-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238073422.16
Slovenia introduces short-term motorway passes 26-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238095922.12
ECB opens door to buying corporate bonds 26-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238087822.37
Climate change affecting European birds: study 26-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/Environ/birds-europe.01
South Korea says more talks needed on EU trade pact 26-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1238039221.56
EU proposes extending duties on Chinese candles 25-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237999622.43
Canada seeks EU approval for seal hunting code 24-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237917721.83
French rose wine to get special designation 24-Mar
http://www.eubusiness.com/news-eu/1237895221.27

Market Research: http://www.eubusiness.com/market-research
Companies: http://www.eubusiness.com/europages
RSS: http://www.eubusiness.com/aboutus/eubusiness-rss
http://www.eubusiness.com/Currency-converter

Newswire online: http://www.eubusiness.com/Newswire

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