Fight against counterfeiting of goods related to IP infringing: Technical report of DG JRC.G.06 on analysis of Due Diligence for fight against counterfeiting of goods related to IP infringing

This report analyses how Due Diligence concepts, which includes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Supply Chain Management Responsibility (SCMR) can be applied to the fight against counterfeit related to IP infringing. We intentionally decided to limit the study in this report to the market portion of counterfeit products related to IP infringing. Counterfeit products can be a wider set than just IP infringing products.JRC.G.6-Digital Citizen Securit

Interrogating Privacy in the digital society: media narratives after 2 cases

The introduction of information technology (IT) in the society and its pervasiveness in every aspect of citizens’ daily life highlight societal stakes related to the goals of IT uses, social networks being a most important example. This paper examines two cases which have in common a not straightforward link with privacy as addressed and protected by existing law in Europe (EU) and the United-States (USA), but whose characteristics, we reckon fall on other privacy function and properties. In Western societies individuals rely on normative discourses such as the legal one in order to ensure protection. Hence, the paper argues that other functions of privacy need either further framing into legislation or they need to constitute in themselves normative commitments of an ethical nature for technology development and use. Some initiatives at EU level recall such commitments namely by developing a normative discourse based on ethics and human values. We argue that we need to interrogate society about those normative discourses because the values we once cherished in a non-digital society are seriously being questioned.JRC.G.7-Digital Citizen Securit

DNA replication defect in the Escherichia coli cgtA (ts) mutant arising from reduced DnaA levels

In Escherichia coli and other bacteria, the ribosome-associated CgtA GTP-binding protein plays a critical role in many basic cellular processes, including the control of DNA replication and/or segregation. However, the mechanism of this control is largely unknown. Here we report that ectopic expression of the dnaA gene partially restored both early growth in liquid medium and DNA synthesis defects of the cgtA (ts) mutant. Amounts of DnaA protein in the cgtA (ts) mutant incubated at elevated (42°C) temperature were significantly lower relative to wild-type bacteria. Both level of dnaA mRNA and transcriptional activity of the dnaA promoter- lacZ fusion were decreased in the CgtA-deficient cells. The effects of ectopic expression of dnaA were specific as analogous expression of another gene coding for a replication regulator, seqA , had no significant changes in growth and DNA synthesis in the cgtA mutant. Thus, it appears that the DNA replication defect in this mutant is a consequence of reduced DnaA levels.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45857/1/203_2006_Article_99.pd

Regulated applications for the road transportation infrastructure: the case study of the smart tachograph in the European Union

The Digital Tachograph (DT) is an equipment intended for installation in road commercial vehicles to display, record, print, store and output automatically or semi-automatically details of the vehicle movement and details of certain periods of activity of the drivers. It is used in the European Union to check the driving times of drivers and enforce the legislation on social rules (rest period, driving time limits), in relation with the road safety objective of reducing the number of accidents and fatalities in the EU. Each driver is equipped with a personal card (s)he has to introduce in the tachograph to be personally identified. The DT is a very important application in Europe in the road transportation sector as it is obligatory to install a DT in commercial vehicles having a mass of more than 3,5 tonnes (in goods transport) and carrying more than 9 persons including the driver (in passenger transport). Thus this regulation impacts millions of vehicles. The legal and technical framework has been recently revised according to Council Regulation (EU) No 165/2014, which introduced support for wireless communication, positioning by Global Positioning Satellite Systems (GNSS) and new security measures for the DT system. This led to the revision of the existing DT technical specifications to a new set of specifications discussed with law enforcers, manufacturers and service providers. The new technical specifications are hundreds of pages long and they cover many different technical aspects. The goal of this paper is to describe the key elements of the new design of the smart tachograph and how it addresses the limitations of the existing DT.JRC.E.3-Cyber and Digital Citizens' Securit

Preliminary studies on remote inspection for JRC CANDUSealing Systems

This paper presents the current implementation status of the JCSS (JRC Candu Sealing System): seals, reading system, seals database. The number of deployed seals and inspections is expected to grow in the next years, and there is a strong demand for a way to optimize the inspection procedure. One possible solution may be remote inspections, where an inspector is present in the initial sealing phase, but the following periodical verifications can be performed also by the site operator. The current system is designed to be used only by a nuclear inspector. Design modifications and improvements needed to achieve a safe and reliable remote inspection are analyzed. Conclusions on possible scenarios and future developments are providedJRC.E.8-Nuclear security (Ispra

Castor® containers: Ultrasonic sealing system for dry applications

New ultrasonic reading heads have been designed at SILab. The heads include a new motor drive with an encoder for precise feedback on the reading positions. The software and acquisition data system were developed as well. The heads are suitable both for dry and underwater applications. The head for dry reading includes a water reservoir to allow the coupling with the ultrasonic bolt. Also the weight and dimensions of the heads were reduced to ease transport and handling. One prototype was fabricated at SILab for each system. On request of DG-TREN, a new ultrasonic sealing system for dry applications is under development. It is based on the characteristics of the CASTOR® containers (dimensions, ambient and condition of operations). It includes a new upgraded ultrasonic sealing bolt, the reading head and a remote positioning system to reduce to a minimum the dose to the inspectors. The seal itself incorporates several innovative elements to avoid tampering with. A full scale mock up is under fabrication.JRC.G.7-Traceability and vulnerability assessmen

Will new and emerging technologies tamper individuals' rights?

Protection of individuals’ data has been subject of heated public controversy when it comes to finding a balance between an early and widespread adoption of new “data-consuming and data-producing” technologies on one hand and the increasing risk of an individual of becoming intrinsically spied, on the other hand. It is clear that new and emerging technologies do also bear huge advantages for the individual. However, it is also more and more evident that providers of such technologies and services have access to a new magnitude of data which can be further exploited in a more or less commercial way. This paper will show the upcoming risks for an individual being exposed to two kinds of new technologies: smart metering in private premises and the use of RFID tags in consumer products. In particular, the paper will mention mitigation principles currently being discussed and implemented for each of both technologies.JRC.G.7-Digital Citizen Securit

Implementation of JRC Candu Sealing Systems in Cernavoda (Romania) and new developments

This paper presents the current implementation status of the JCSS (JRC Candu Sealing System) in Cernavoda (Romania): seals, reading system, seals database. We are discussing also the lessons learned during two years of experimentation together with Safeguards inspectors. A description of the upgraded system that is going to be deployed at Cernavoda-2 is presented. On-going developments of various JRC Ultrasonic Sealing Systems for both underwater and dry spent fuel storages applications, in particular for dry storages using cask with concrete biological shielding cover are also presented.JRC.G.7-Traceability and vulnerability assessmen

Introduction of the smart digital tachograph in the European Union

The new Regulation (EU) N°165/2014 adopted in February 2014 by the European Parliament and the Council foresees the introduction of a new generation of digital tachographs, called the "smart tachographs", with new security mechanisms, a GNSS component and different communication interfaces. According to the Regulation, the European Commission intends to adopt in March 2016 an implementing act whereby the industry will receive a new technical annex specifying the requirements for the smart tachograph. This paper intends to present the process for elaborating this technical document, its content and the timing for the introduction of the new systemsJRC.G.6-Digital Citizen Securit