USPTO Director David Kappos Speaks On Need For IP Cooperation 24/09/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Patent offices around the world must work together to combat the inefficiencies in patent processing that threaten to stifle innovation and as a result slow needed growth of the global economy, David Kappos, director of the US Patent and Trademark Office said today.
Special Report: Global Internet Governance Work At A Turning Point 22/09/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Five years after the tale began in Athens, the United Nations Internet Governance Forum returned to Europe last week to ask itself what has been achieved. The answer was encouraging enough to prompt a range of internet stakeholders to suggest continuation of the group, this time with a greater focus on concrete outcomes.
Coherence Needed To Avoid Multilateral Legal Swamp, WTO Told 22/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The multilateral system with its different agencies dealing with specific areas is sometimes seen as incoherent in global negotiations and norm-setting as there are overlaps in competency, definition and scope, according to speakers at a side event to the recent World Trade Organization Public Forum.
Spanish Collecting Society Targets Group Proposing Alternative Royalty System 22/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A Spanish group lobbying for alternative ways to protect and promote creative production has been asked to cease activity or face a lawsuit for damages, unfair competition and infringement by the Spanish collecting society SGAE (Sociedad General de Autores y Editores), according to the group. The collecting society also charged that the lobbying group is undermining its reputation.
Musician Stevie Wonder Just Calls On WIPO To Improve Books Access 20/09/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter and UN Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder today called on the governments of the World Intellectual Property Organization to create a system for copyright law to assist those with disabilities in getting access to education and reading materials. It is time to “declare a state of emergency and end the information deprivation that continues to keep the visually impaired in the dark,” he told assembled delegates.
IP “Authorities” Meet To Discuss IP Infrastructure, Collaboration 19/09/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The second global symposium of intellectual property authorities met last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva to discuss global IP infrastructure and collaboration between IP offices, particularly in ways that might bring greater benefit to small offices.
Europe Acts On Visually Impaired Reader Access 19/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The European Blind Union and the Federation of European Publishers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on access to works for dyslexic or visually impaired readers on 14 September.
Online Social Media Strategy: Use Them Or Be Used By Them 19/09/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A frontline debate among many industry intellectual property lawyers in the United States is how to handle the explosion in use of online social networking media tools like Facebook, Twitter or FourSquare.
US Companies, Officials Discuss Policies To Boost IP Value, Cut Costs 18/09/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Private-sector experts and key government officials in the United States came together this week to discuss strategies for improving rules and procedures on intellectual property, and look for ways to maximise the value of company IP assets while cutting costs.
Consultations On WTO Drug Transit Case Continue 16/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The second round of World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations between the European Union and the Netherlands and India and Brazil over the seizure of generic medicines in transit were held this week.