UNESCO Approves Palestinian Membership; US Faces Decision31/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentMembers of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today approved Palestine as a member state, a move expected to force the United States to choose between withdrawal from UN agencies including the World Intellectual Property Organization, or removing a national law preventing the US from funding and participating in any organization with Palestine as a member.
US Elected Officials: IP Rights, Tech Markets Key For Russian WTO Accession31/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe top members of the United States Congress for international trade policy have put intellectual property rights and information technology market access at the top of demands for Russia’s impending accession to the World Trade Organization.
Multiple Defendants In Patent Infringement Filing Under New US Law28/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentA company has filed a patent infringement complaint in the Eastern District of Texas that names 30 defendants, including some of the largest US technology companies, a case that reflects a change in US law as passed last month.
Plurilateral Trade Agreements Lack Protections For Users, Intermediaries27/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsThe role of online intermediaries in copyright enforcement is on the international negotiating table in recent plurilateral trade agreements. Those negotiating with the US would be advised to examine carefully what is being offered, writes Margot Kaminski.
Controversial US Bill Targeting “Rogue Websites” Introduced In US Congress27/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentLegislation giving new powers to the government and copyright holders in the United States to unilaterally block payments to or take down websites deemed by US courts to be infringing intellectual property rights has been introduced into the House of Representatives. Now the policy fight begins.
Fire At WIPO Premises Forces Two-Day Shutdown27/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentAn unusual sight met passers-by at the World Intellectual Property Organization around lunchtime today. The street was crowded with several fire trucks and yellow security tape kept people away from the entrance to the main building. A number of WIPO staff were outside waiting to know if they could go back to their work stations after a fire started in the WIPO basement around 11:30, according to a security source. According to another source on the site, the fire was rapidly under control but smoke had spread and the electricity was down.
WIPO Re:Search Bridges Public, Private Sectors For Neglected Disease Research27/10/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments“Neglected tropical diseases are century-old diseases and today we see new hope,” Margaret Chan, director general of the World Health Organisation, told a crowd at yesterday’s launch of a new public-private collaboration to develop medicines for the poorest countries. The project, called Re:Search, was launched at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Revised EPO Patent For Conventional Broccoli Has Public Interest Ramifications27/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsA patent for a conventionally bred form of the common household vegetable broccoli appears to be on its way to acceptance by the European Patent Office following a change to the patent by the company filing it, according to sources. The decision not to revoke the patent, which has been the subject of protests and now calls for action in national courts, could clear the way for hundreds of other vegetable patents to follow, a source said.
IP Enforcement Tensions At WTO; Health Amendment Extended Again26/10/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentEnforcement of intellectual property proved to be a point of contention among World Trade Organization members at this week’s meeting of the Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Meanwhile, despite debate, the Council extended the deadline for members to accept a TRIPS amendment on public health, leaving the December WTO ministerial to consider that extension plus an extension on a moratorium on so-called non-violation cases under TRIPS.
US Copyright Office Releases Priorities For Next Two Years25/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe US Copyright Office today issued its priorities and projects for the next two years, targeting studies, legislation, trade and foreign relations, and administrative law.
