Quo Vadis EU?

According to a group of EU thinkers, there is a great need for forward thinking in the types of investments that should be implemented just so that the EU can better compete with the rest of the world. Consisting of policy makers and think-tankers, they have advised that the European Investment Fund (EIF) be expanded to also fund corporate ventures and innovation projects. Much of the funds have been used for building infrastructures and the likes. They would like the politicians to use the European Innovation Act, which will be launched in mid 2010 to better steer the direction of the EU in the face of massive debilitating unemployment among the member nations. Not withstanding the emergence of a third force ( BRIC) knocking at their doorsteps, the EU must seize the opportunity to come together and start leading again like what their forefathers have done during the industrial revolution. Much of their opinion was culled from an online discussion held recently.

Just what are they concerned with? First of all, they are concerned with the limited number of projects that do have a pan European cooperation. Things seem to move very slowly, perhaps due to the differing languages and the lack of impetus from the EU Commission themselves. There is real bureaucracy within the group. So the thinkers are suggesting that less political interference from Brussels and EU governments should be the order of the day. And of course the private sector should be roped in for any kind of investment financed by the EIF. One of the sectors that should be looked into is the intellectual property sector. They have suggested a real relook at the inefficiencies that bestride this sector, pointing to the large number of unused patents that are lying around in research labs and universities. The ideas are there, but there is no lead from those holding the funds, and this cannot go on if the EU is to be group to be respected by others.

Are there areas that the EU can pioneer and lead? Certainly, and they don’t have to look too far away. Remember there was a time when the combustion engine was the new toy. Well, the automobile is still the thing to get around places, and not forgetting to show off as well! In the face of global warming and the melting of the North West Passage, what can be better than to reinvent the car and make it greener? Europe, and in particular Germany, has got very little to show as far as designing a greener car is concerned. The Japanese are leading with their hybrid engines, followed by the Koreans. Can EU be depended on with reinventing the ubiquitous car? It is going to be a difficult task, looking at the disarray thrown up by the sale of Opel. And pressure is running high with the Copenhagen round in December 2009 where the leaders from around the world are scheduled to knock out an agreement to tackle global warming. There are noises from the emerging markets to get access to green technology for a song if they are to sign any sort of agreements to bind them to cut gas emissions but the question is whether a disarrayed Europe can have anything to concede? Perhaps only when they start to lead again, perhaps years after the Copenhagen summit!

Virtual world problems heading for real world courtrooms

Whilst the recession has brought many real world economies to its knees, and many companies looking at cutting down employees number, the good stuffs has taken place in the virtual world. Yes, Second Live and Everquest have gained ground. So have many computer games companies recording strong growth for 2009. And one of the unbelievable things that happened in cyberspace is the stealing of intellectual properties. In cyberspace, you can buy or trade items that others have created to dress your virtual avatars, or to arm them so that they can win combats. There is buying, trading and stealing in virtual space now, and these activities will only increase as the activities claimed more adherents.

Just like in the real world, trading activities of virtual entities have their share of problems. People who patronize virtual websites have begun to horn their skills to such an extend that they have found it necessary to steal ideas and properties designed by others. The alternative is to pay for these items. Instead of buying such objects legally with virtual money, they just copied them without permission. Those who had earnestly spent their time creating these virtual objects are at a lost as to how to seek redress. And bringing these robbers to court might proved to be costly. To make it worse, real world lawyers who can understand this virtual world going on are few and difficult to find.

Just how big is the problem then? It was estimated that the virtual world transaction for 2009 could reach $5 billion! The virtual transaction cost for the US was estimated to be over $600 million for 2009 and growing at a rapid pace. There are many who now spend their full time designing unique caricatures, avatars, weaponry and costumes and put them up for trading and sales in the virtual space. And like the real world, they should have them copy righted, just in case someone comes and just copied it and called them theirs. Although in legal terms, once you have created something, and published it, you should hold the copy right; but in reality, you should seek proper documentations and proofs so that others cannot dispute it in a court. So a little bit of real world practice is needed if you want protection and a peace of mind, cyberspace or not.