Access To Affordable Healthcare: A Global Wake-Up Call Fosters Coalition Of The Like-Minded27/11/2017 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentNEW DELHI — Few topics in the global health agenda are as contentious as access to affordable medicines and medical care, and expectedly, divergent views permeated the discussions at a high-level conference in New Delhi, India last week. But if there is one thing that the three-day meet made amply clear, it was this: access to affordable healthcare has emerged as a global problem, and an emerging coalition of the like-minded, cutting across the developed and developing countries, is determined to have their voices heard in international policy circles on the issue.
WIPO GREEN Seeks Consultants For Tech Deals In Asia-Pacific20/11/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe World Intellectual Property Organization program on intellectual property and environmental technology is looking for consultants to catalyze green tech transactions in the Asia-Pacific region.
TPP Texts Show Suspended IP Provisions16/11/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentTrade ministers negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement have released the list of provisions they have suspended, including a range of articles related to intellectual property rights, such as patentable subject matter, test data protection, biologics, copyright terms of protection, and technological protection measures.
‘Damaging’ Provisions On IP Dropped From TPP Agreement, MSF Says15/11/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentTrade ministers negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States have dropped many problematic provisions related to intellectual property and health, Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) reported today. Also removed from the agreement appears to be the investor-state dispute settlement provisions, according to a source.
JPO Issues First Decision To Register Sound Trademark Consisting Solely Of Sound Element16/10/2017 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentOn 26 September, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced, for the first time ever, the grant of protection to three sound trademarks consisting solely of a sound element, writes Masaki Mikami.
Interview With New Korean IP Commissioner Sung Yunmo02/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentKorean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) Commissioner Sung Yunmo took office a couple of months ago and is attending the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly this week. In that context, he sat down with Intellectual Property Watch, and in a Q&A mutually prepared Q&A, he described some of the policies and plans for his term of office, collaboration with WIPO, international partnerships, a proposed WIPO office in Korea, and regional efforts toward global harmonisation.
ARIPO, Japan Government To Train 1,000 People In IP Systems In Africa29/09/2017 by Maina Waruru for Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsThe government of Japan, in partnership with the African Region Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), has begun implementation of a project meant to train 1,000 people across Africa in intellectual property systems. The World Intellectual Property Organization also plays a role.
Case Shows European Luxury Brands Must Be Popular In Japan To Be Protected There29/09/2017 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentIn a recent decision, the Opposition Board of the Japan Patent Office dismissed an opposition filed by CFUB Sisley, a French producer of cosmetics and fragrances founded in 1976, against the word mark “SISLOY” written in a standard character. The case shows that the status of European luxury brand will not automatically enjoy broader scope of protection in Japan unless the brand obtains a high degree of popularity and reputation among Japanese consumers, writes Masaki Mikami.
Malaysia Grants Compulsory Licence For Generic Sofosbuvir Despite Gilead Licence15/09/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 CommentsA much cheaper version of a groundbreaking hepatitis C medicine is expected to be available soon for the hundreds of thousands of hepatitis C patients in Malaysia, as it decided to grant a compulsory licence to sofosbuvir, according to sources. The decision comes right after the medicine originator decided to expand its voluntary licensing scheme to four more countries, including Malaysia. [Updated]
WIPO Study Chronicles Remarkable Rise In Trademark Filings In China Province08/09/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentA programme of promotion, education and incentives combined to bring about a remarkable rise in trademark filings in the Chinese municipality of Qingdao, a joint study of the World Intellectual Property Organization and Qingdao municipal government found.
