“Great Achievement” On IP Issues At Convention On Biological Diversity Summit30/05/2008 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentBy Kaitlin Mara Government negotiators meeting in Bonn this week reached breakthroughs on two intellectual property-related areas of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). At the highest level of the CBD membership, agreement was struck on a way forward on creating a regime to ensure equitable access to biodiversity and equitable sharing of […]
L’OMS adopte le document le plus important depuis Doha en matière de propriété intellectuelle et de santé publique30/05/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentWilliam New Avec la stratégie mondiale adoptée samedi lors de l’Assemblée mondiale de la Santé en vue de combler le vide en matière de recherche sur les maladies qui sévissent dans les pays en développement, l’institution des Nations Unies s’inscrit directement dans l’élaboration de politiques relatives à la propriété intellectuelle au plan international. Selon certaines […]
La OMS adopta “el documento más importante desde la Declaración de Doha” sobre PI y salud pública30/05/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentPor William New La Asamblea Mundial de la Salud anual llevada a cabo el sábado adoptó una estrategia mundial destinada a llenar el vacío en investigación para enfermedades que afectan a los países en desarrollo que coloca al organismo de Naciones Unidas en el centro de la formulación de políticas de propiedad intelectual mundial, y, […]
Embattled ACTA Negotiations Next Week In Geneva; US Sees Signing This Year30/05/2008 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 13 CommentsBy Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Formal negotiations on an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) are expected to commence next week in Geneva, according to a European Commission official, even as a leaked United States trade office paper is drawing criticism of the proposed pact. The publication of a US Trade Representative’s office discussion paper […]
UNCITRAL Lays Groundwork For Policy On IP Assets And Financing30/05/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentBy Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch NEW YORK – The groundwork has been laid at the United Nations by governments, non-governmental organisations, and intellectual property and finance experts on how to use intellectual property assets to encourage credit around the globe while not interfering with intellectual property laws.
US Presidential Campaign Officials Talk ‘IP Tsars’ and Network Neutrality30/05/2008 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentBy Kaitlin Mara The next United States president must make access to knowledge and technology policy a priority, participants at a conference on computers, freedom, and privacy protection last week told representatives of the leading presidential campaigns. Campaign representatives for Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic frontrunner, and Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, discussed […]
WHO Adopts “Most Important Document Since Doha” On IP And Public Health29/05/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 CommentsBy William New The annual World Health Assembly on Saturday adopted a global strategy aimed at filling the research gap for diseases afflicting developing countries that places the UN agency squarely in global intellectual property policymaking and despite compromises is the most significant reference document on IP and public health in years, according to sources […]
European Commission Proposes Forum On Future Of Copying Levies28/05/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsBy David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – The European Commission has recommended that a forum involving creative artists and the consumer industry should be established to determine the future of private copying levies. Twenty-one of the European Union’s 27 countries impose oft-criticised surcharges on equipment – ranging from blank cassettes to MP3 players […]
Not All Patents Created Equal, Technology Policy Experts Say28/05/2008 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentBy Kaitlin Mara NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT – The efficacy of the patent system is not equivalent across all industries, and appears to be particularly ineffective in software, said a panel at the Computers, Freedom, and Privacy conference held at Yale University last week. The presence of a one-size-fits-all patent system is not optimal, said Brian […]
International ‘Making Available’ Right Becoming Less Available In US Law28/05/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentBy Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch The United States can’t make up its mind. On one hand, the country has signed at least nine international agreements that explicitly provide a new digital right for copyright owners: the exclusive right to make their works electronically available to the public. On the other hand, the US courts are uncertain whether this “making available” right exists under US law.US courts have split over this issue, with some recognising the right and others rejecting it. But a new trend may be emerging. In the last four months, four US federal district courts have ruled that “making available” is not a right recognised by US copyright law.
