European Union

The European Economic and Trade Office (EETO) together with the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) held the 2011 EU – Taiwan Seminar on Protection of Internet Copyright at the International Conference Hall in National Taiwan University today (31 October). The seminar speakers included Policy Officer Benoit Lory from the IPR Unit in Directorate General Trade of the European Commission, Ms Chen Yi Ching from the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office, Chief Prosecutor Chang Shao Bin of the Taipei District Prosecution Office, Secretary General Eric Walter of the French High Authority for the Broadcasting of Works and the Protection of Rights on the Internet (HADOPI), Executive Director Spencer Yang of the Taiwan Foundation Against Copyright Theft, and Regional Counsel Benjamin Ng of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. The speakers described in detail the legal framework and the enforcement of internet copyright protection. The two industry representatives also shared their experience from the rights-holders' points of view. Questions and answers sessions were also arranged for the nearly two hundred participants to allow ample discussions on the matter.

The Seminar also invited Director General Wang Mei Hua of TIPO, and Frederic Laplanche, Head of the EETO to give opening remarks. In her remarks, DG Wang said, "in order to benefit from the convenience of the Internet while safeguarding the rights of the copyright holders, it is essential that we strengthen knowledge on Internet copyright protection, establish a comprehensive Internet copyright legal system, and implement effective law enforcement." In his remarks, Mr Laplanche stressed the quality and density of cooperation between the EU and Taiwan on IPR issues, and said "both the EU and Taiwan are knowledge-based economies. That is why the protection of IPR also means protection of innovation as the foundation of our economies."

 

During the seminar, Mr Lory pointed out that the value of fake goods has risen from five billion US dollars twenty years ago to five hundred billion US dollars. The exponential growth of this value means combating copyright piracy is a top-priority mission. The task of the governments' regulations in keeping up with the speed of the internet era is a major challenge for both the EU and Taiwan. This is why an interaction platform such as today's seminar proves to be so important for both. This platform allows experience sharing in the hope that a more secure economic environment for IPR can be established.

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