Delegates See UN Protocol Against Biopiracy Within Reach 19/10/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NAGOYA, JAPAN – Prospects for completing and approving a protocol protecting natural resources from biopiracy and providing equitable sharing of benefits derived from the commercial use of those resources are promising, according to delegates. But hard negotiations lie ahead if they are to meet a deadline to present an agreed draft protocol to the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by the end of this week.
US Attorney General In China Talks Tough, Blurs Line, On IP 19/10/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Attorney General Eric Holder today called on other governments to join in intensifying the fight against intellectual property infringement, on the theme that, “intellectual property crimes are not victimless.” But his law enforcement argument may need finessing to reach all stakeholders.
Special Report: Are Copyright Trolls The Future Of Digital Content Protection? 18/10/2010 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Entrepreneurial law firms in the United States and United Kingdom are targeting suspected internet infringers through mass letter-writing and lawsuit campaigns. Are “copyright trolls” the way of the future for protecting digital content?
Two New Books On IP In The WTO 18/10/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new two-volume set of books entitled Intellectual Property in the WTO, edited by high-impact academic Carlos Correa, is now available. For a short time, publisher Edward Elgar company is offering a 20 percent discount for Intellectual Property Watch readers.
WTO Paragraph 6 Meeting Aims At Improved Use Of Health Waiver 16/10/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The agenda has been circulated for the upcoming annual World Trade Organization review of an amendment to international IP trade law that has so far failed to increase access to needed medicines for the poorest economies. It shows a deeper look at existing measures and opens the possibility of new solutions to the issue.
WIPO Returns To Substantive Patent Law Talks After 5 Years, With Balance 16/10/2010 by William New and Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Member governments of the World Intellectual Property Organization today agreed on the first work programme for the committee on patent law in nearly five years. The delicate accord, reached after a long week of mostly closed negotiations, was quickly hailed by some as reflecting a new reality for the international patent system with stronger recognition of emerging economies’ interests.
As Negotiators Launch Talks On Biodiversity, Industry Requests IP Protection 15/10/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This week, global attention will be focussed on hopes to reach an international agreement aimed at giving the world a better chance to reduce the loss of biodiversity and ensure benefits are being shared. Intellectual Property Watch will be in Nagoya, Japan to report on the negotiations.
WIPO Patent Committee Chair’s Text Shows Possible Future Work 15/10/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The chair of World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) today circulated a text reflecting possible elements of future work for the committee. The text, which is now the subject of informal discussions, includes key parts of proposals put forward earlier in the week.
WTO TRIPS Consultations Tomorrow 14/10/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Trade Organization members will convene tomorrow morning for an open-ended informal session of the WTO negotiations on geographical indications, in the run-up to next week’s meeting of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Council.
Patents In Cosmetics: Disclosure Of Origin Arduous, Report Says 14/10/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A growing number of patents are being filed on plant-based ingredients for use in cosmetics, according to a new report from the Geneva-based Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT).