Medicines Access Again Captures Attention At WTO As Progress Urged In Round30/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentAccess to medicine and preservation of biodiversity topped the agenda at the World Trade Organization Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Council meeting this week, as a new alleged drug seizure in France, a concern over a largely-unused amendment to TRIPS intended to help developing countries gain access to medicine, and a renewed mandate on biodiversity at the World Intellectual Property Organization influenced the issues on the table.
Bilski Impact On Biotech Seen As Minimal; Experts See Court Shift29/10/2009 by Sharon McLoone for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe intellectual property community is anxiously awaiting the United States Supreme Court’s reaction next month in the closely watched Bilski v. Kappos case, a legal feud over the validity of a patent covering a method of commodities trading.The outcome of the case could have broad implications for the patentability of business methods and software, which could potentially wallop the technology industry. It likely will have less impact in the biotechnology arena, experts said at the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s Intellectual Property Counsels Committee conference in Washington on Tuesday.
Changing Winds For Gene Patenting In the US? Stakeholders React To Draft Report29/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentA United States health department advisory group this month produced a new draft report on gene patenting and licensing with recommendations suggesting that excessive patenting can limit patients’ access to gene testing and might not foster genetic research. The recommendations were supported by a variety of health professionals but put the biotechnology industry on edge.
Betty King Nominated To Be Next US Ambassador In Geneva23/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentBetty Eileen King of New York has been nominated next United States permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, an ambassador-level posting, the US Mission announced. The nomination has been sent to the US Senate for confirmation. This would not be King’s first ambassador-level posting. She was nominated to represent […]
US Federal Circuit May Offer Patent, Tech Policy Guidance For High Court23/10/2009 by Winter Casey for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentWASHINGTON, DC – The United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeals should act more like a teacher to the Supreme Court and do a better job explaining its policy reasoning when it makes decisions on innovation-related cases, a top patent law academic said late Tuesday. If the Federal Circuit was clearer in how it landed at certain conclusions in patent disputes it might result in the Supreme Court opting to get involved in fewer patent cases, said Rochelle Dreyfuss, a professor at New York University School of Law.
US Chamber of Commerce Takedown Notice Targets Parody Site23/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe United States Chamber of Commerce industry group has issued a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice against a ‘parody’ website that mocked the Chamber, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Earlier this week, a fake press briefing purportedly from the business lobby made international headlines for announcing an apparent about-face in the Chamber’s controversial […]
French HADOPI Law, Now Complete, Can Brandish Its Weapons23/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 CommentsThe French Constitutional Council yesterday gave its ruling about the constitutionality of a French bill aiming to protect literary and artistic intellectual property rights online, and decided that the bill was in conformity with the French Constitution, asking only for a minor amendment, according to the Council ruling available here (in French). The legislation, nicknamed […]
Kappos’ Early Days At USPTO: Many Changes, Few Funds23/10/2009 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentReform of the United States patent system, better patent quality and greater international cooperation among patent offices are just a few of the jobs new United States Patent and Trademark Office chief David Kappos has on his plate.
European Commission Paper On Single Market For Creative Content22/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsThe European Commission on 22 October published a “reflection paper,” available here (pdf), highlighting the challenges of creating a European digital single market for creative content, according to a press release. The paper was released at the same time as a study published by two European consulting firms and the Institute for Information Law at […]
Perpetual Protection Of Traditional Knowledge “Not On Table” At WIPO22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 3 CommentsProtection of traditional knowledge under intellectual property rights may have a time limit, though determining duration of protection measures will be more difficult than it is with Western scientific innovation, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry said yesterday.
