Economists Report Empirical Evidence Of TRIPS Impact On Developing Countries 16/09/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement has sparked decades of international debate over whether exporting stronger intellectual property norms to developing countries is beneficial or harmful.
High Copyright Transaction Costs Cause “Friction,” Google Economist Tells WIPO 16/09/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The combined forces of strengthening copyright law and the explosion of information has led to huge transaction costs in managing legitimate transactions of copyright material, the top economist from Google said yesterday at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
China Defies Global Trend In Patent and Trademark Applications, WIPO Says 15/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The global economic crisis led to a significant drop in patent and trademarks filings in 2008 and particularly in 2009 but there are signs of recovery, according to the World Intellectual Property Indicators 2010 report released today. China is still showing vigorous growth and demand in intellectual property protection.
Swiss Supreme Court Forbids Rights Holder Access To IP Addresses 14/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Swiss Supreme Court Forbids Rights Holders’ Access to Personal IP Addresses The Swiss Federal Supreme Court took a decision on 8 September preventing the collection of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses by private companies.
Campaign Aims To Take Back Consumer Rights Over IP-Protected Products 14/09/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Copyright and patent laws “are often misused” for reasons that have “more to do with limiting competition and preventing consumers from making innovative uses of their products” than they do with stopping piracy, global consumer advocacy group Consumers International plans to tell a UN internet meeting today. Such misuse includes limitations on the use of third-party content on devices such as the iPhone, and regional codes that prevent consumers from playing DVDs bought legally abroad in a consumer’s home country.
Human Rights Council Opens With New Work On IP 14/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The UN Human Rights Council opened yesterday morning, with its session planned to run until 1 October. Several new reports that touch on issues of innovation and indigenous protection are expected to be presented. The Working Group on the Right to Development will submit the report of a session it held in Geneva in April, […]
IP-Watch Chairs IP Law Summit 13/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual Property Watch Editor William New this week is chairing an IP Law Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada (US), being held from 12-14 September. The event is addressing latest issues at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), prospects for US and international patent reform, US copyright law reform in the context of international […]
African Traditional Knowledge And Folklore Given IP Protection Despite Warning Of TK Commodification 12/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Some African nations signed a protocol on the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore at the beginning of August gaining the praise of the World Intellectual Property Organization. However, a United Nations report launched in January warned against the application of western legal and economic principles to collectively owned knowledge in traditional communities.
NGOs Warn On IP In Trans Pacific Trade Agreement 10/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A coalition of some two dozen non-governmental organisations yesterday sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative raising concern about the impact on access to medicines of intellectual property provisions in a regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement, known as the Trans Pacific Partnership, which is under negotiation. The coalition led by Public Citizen warned against […]
EU Launches Survey Of Countries’ Deficiency In IP Enforcement 08/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Commission has launched its survey on intellectual property protection and enforcement in third countries. The survey is open until 31 October. Every two years the Commission conducts “a broad IPR enforcement survey,” that will serve, with other input, to establish a list of “priority countries” where counterfeiting and piracy are considered “a serious […]