Research News

The Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition had already commented at an early stage of the legislative process commented on the EU Commission's proposal for a Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market in a comprehensive statement of September 2017 and suggested amendments.

Following the February compromise between the EU Commission, representatives of the European Parliament and the EU Member States, an amended version of the Directive is to be adopted by the European Parliament in April.

In an interview, Prof. Dr. Reto M. Hilty, managing director of the Institute and head of the project group on the modernisation of EU copyright rules, gives his views on the currently planned version.

Interview
Comprehensive Statement of the Institute

The presentation slides are available here (in German).

The German Digital Summit, formerly National IT Summit, is a central platform for the cooperation of politics, business, academia, and society in shaping the digital transformation. The special focus 2018 was on Artificial Intelligence.

The Federal Government adopted its Artificial Intelligence Strategy on 15 November 2018. The strategy was drawn up under the lead responsibility of the Economic Affairs, Research and Labour Ministries following expert meetings and public consultations. The main theme of the 2018 Digital Summit takes up this process and adds the expertise of the Digital Summit network.

Dietmar Harhoff's presentation within the scope of the panel „Artificial Intelligence in Bavaria“ is also available as video (in German).

More on AI by Dietmar Harhoff:
„Outline for a German Strategy for Artificial Intelligence“ by Dietmar Harhoff with Stefan Heumann et al.
Künstliche Intelligenz – Neue Forschungsbündnisse, Kurzkommentar von Dietmar Harhoff und Stefan Heumann im ZBW Wirtschaftsdienst

Artificial Intelligence is considered the key technology of the future – no car, no hospital, no plant will work any longer without it. The US and China have long since realized that. They pour billions in research and development. Their companies set now the standards for the technology. Experts warn: Germany’s prosperity and future is at risk.

More info on this subject (in German):
Eckpunkte einer nationalen Strategie für Künstliche Intelligenz
Artificial Intelligence – New Research Alliances, Short comment by Dietmar Harhoff and Stefan Heumann
 

Many observers see this also as a transition to a data driven economy. However, data alone do not provide added value, they require processing in intelligent data analysis systems using new business models. Here, artificial intelligence (AI) will play an important role, since research funding alone does not create added value effects. Well-functioning AI ecosystems are essential to translate excellent research into societal benefits.

Short comment by Dietmar Harhoff and Stefan Heumann in ZBW Wirtschaftsdienst 2018 (7): 7 (in German)

Paper by Dietmar Harhoff, Stefan Heumann, Nicola Jentzsch and Philippe Lorenz, Stiftung Neue Verantwortung, 05/30/2018

Download: Outline for a German Artificial Intelligence Strategy (pdf)

Download the Position Paper

The study examines the functioning of the system of SPCs established in the EU by Regulation 1768/92/EEC on SPCs for medicinal products (now: Reg. 469/2009/EC) and Regulation 1610/96/EC on SPCs for plant protection products. The functioning of these Regulations is considered in the context of adjacent legislation concerning marketing authorisation for medicinal products and plant protection products (Directives 82/2001/EC and 83/2001/EC; Regulation 1107/2009/EC). 

Within this context, the study focuses inter alia on:

• the impact of the CJEU case law on the SPC system and the practice of the national patent offices;
• the challenges posed by technical developments for the SPC legislation;
• the impact of the Agreement on a Unified Patent Court on the scope of the Bolar exemption;
• the models for creating an SPC manufacturing waiver;
• the interaction between SPCs and the unitary patent package;
• the options for creating a unitary SPC.

Based on legal analysis, supplemented by a fact-finding process, the study identifies critical issues, explores possible solutions and formulates some recommendations.

The Study on the Legal Aspects of Supplementary Protection Certificates was published on 28 May 2018.

Study and Annexes: https://ec.europa.eu/docsroom/documents/29524
Executive Summary: PDF

Article by Dietmar Harhoff and Monika Schnitzer, Vox.EU, 05/09/2018

Download e-book "Explaining Germany’s Exceptional Recovery"

TV feature by Stefanie Knoll, Eco, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen, SRF, 03/19/2018