Clear The Way For SMEs: Lessons From Nairobi30/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentPenye nia, pana njia. A Swahili proverb for “when there’s a will, there’s a way,” this might well be the motto for innovative entrepreneurs the world over. Whether they’re based in Nairobi, Brussels or Silicon Valley, what matters the most to entrepreneurs is the success of their businesses. Of course, what’s “in the way” of that success can vary considerably, writes Jonathan Zuck.
In Boost To Multilateral System And WIPO, Audiovisual Treaty Set For 2012 Completion30/09/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentWorld Intellectual Property Organization members yesterday agreed to attempt completion in 2012 of long-stalled negotiations on a treaty giving clearer protection to the rights of actors and others performing in audiovisual productions. The breakthrough is being seen as good for the multilateral system and, if successfully concluded, for actors and others in developing countries.
Internet Governance Forum Faces Challenges As UN Hears Proposals For New Bodies27/09/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe United Nations-led Internet Governance Forum is in its usual dialogue-only mode again this week as it meets in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. But it is facing huge challenges at the beginning of its second five-year mandate.
Talk Of Treaties, Revenue Increase, Development As WIPO Annual Assemblies Kick Off27/09/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 CommentThe annual World Intellectual Property Organization meeting of member states kicked off yesterday with hope among participants that the next year could bring a return to positive revenues, a settling of internal dissension, and some of the first treaties at the UN agency in nearly 20 years.
New Website Allows Reporting On Violations Of Net Neutrality26/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentCivil rights organisations last week launched a website to allow users to report violations of internet neutrality. If users become aware that their telecommunications operators block access to certain content or services, they are invited to list this on respectmynet.eu.
Health Impact Fund – Raising Issues Of Distribution, IP Rights And Alliances26/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThis piece raises several issues with the public health financing proposal called the Health Impact Fund. It questions the relative distribution of costs and benefits; the persistent issue of intellectual property rights; as well as a lack of alliance with existing efforts to increase innovation of and access to essential medicines for the poor.
US Patent Law Seen Opening Door To Global Harmonisation At WIPO25/09/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsJust a week after US patent reform was signed into law, the Symposium of Intellectual Property Authorities opened with an air of celebration on 22 September at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). During the opening session, several keynote speakers congratulated United States Patent and Trademark Office Director David Kappos for the long-awaited legislation helping to harmonise the American patent process with the rest of the world.
A Call To Update Trade Policy Apps In The Internet Era22/09/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAccess to the internet and internet services, such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, is often thought about in terms of freedom of expression. The so-called Arab Spring reinforced that link as governments limited, censored and restricted the internet in an effort to control communication.But freedom of information and open access to the internet is not only a human rights issue; it is also of vital importance to the world economy. This was the key message that emerged from “Blocking the Free Flow of Information: A New Trade Barrier,” a session held at the World Trade Organization’s Public Forum on 21 September.
ICC Conference On Changing Domain Name Landscape And New gTLDs22/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is organising a conference entitled, “The Changing Domain Name Landscape and New gTLDs” on 30 September in Paris.
Breakthrough Gives EU Principles For Digitising Out-Of-Print Books20/09/2011 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentKey European stakeholders have approved a “ground-breaking” set of principles for digitising and making publicly available out-of-print books and journals. The accord could serve as a template for dealing with the vexing problem of orphan works, those for whom the copyright owner cannot be found, according to International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations CEO Olav Stokkmo.
