European Commission Floats Proposal To Stop Theft Of Trade Secrets29/11/2013 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe rise of cybercrime and industrial espionage, including alleged economic spying by the US National Security Agency, calls for a pan-European system to protect trade secrets, the European Commission said on 27 November. A recent survey showed that one in five European companies has suffered at least one attempt to steal its trade secrets in the past 10 years, the EC said, and the numbers are rising. It proposed legislation to safeguard undisclosed know-how and business information against unlawful theft and abuse. Industry generally hailed the proposal, though one law firm said it lacks some enforcement teeth.
Critical Moment For Africa’s Small Farmers As ARIPO Decides On Plant Variety Protection28/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) this week was expected to consider a proposal to move toward a biotechnology-friendly future, but small farmers say the current proposal will damage their ability to exist in the those countries.
WIPO Launches Green Tech Licensing Database, Network28/11/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe World Intellectual Property Organization today launched WIPO Green, a database and network aimed at boosting licensing of environmental technologies.
USTR Says Its TPP Proposal On IP And Public Health Shows Flexibility28/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsThe Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) yesterday issued a statement on the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement talks on intellectual property rights and public health, suggesting that it has put forward new ideas on the issue. The statement is worded to reflect that USTR has heard the concerns of other governments and of public health advocates, but it’s unclear if those groups will accept it.
EU Commissioner Defends Investor-State Provisions; NGOs Propose “Alternative Trade Mandate”28/11/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 CommentsEuropean Union Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht today (27 November) defended the inclusion of an investor-state dispute settlement provision in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). De Gucht argued the out-of-court settlements allowing private sector to sue governments were necessary because the TTIP would not per se give EU companies a standing in US courts.
BRICS Launch Their Own Plan For IP Cooperation; India Defends Itself27/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentDeveloping countries have been under pressure for years to join the global intellectual property system established by developed countries, and they have been doing so gradually. But now the leading emerging economies have taken matters into their own hands and signed an IP cooperation roadmap among themselves that will boost their uptake of IP in a way that is most favourable to them.
US Supreme Court Questions America’s Power To Carry Out Treaties26/11/2013 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentOn 5 November, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could undermine America’s ability to carry out its treaty obligations. The case casts a shadow over the country’s power to implement a wide variety of international agreements, including trade and intellectual property agreements.
Medical R&D Projects Proposed By WHO Regions Show Diversity26/11/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe regions of the World Health Organization earlier this month submitted their proposals for projects to boost research and development of health technologies for diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries and lacking a market incentive. A shortlist of projects will be selected by a group of WHO-chosen experts at a 3-5 December meeting in Geneva.
International Organisations, Industry, Launch Campaign Against Fake Medicines26/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentTen global health organisations today launched “Fight the Fakes,” a global campaign against “fake” medicines, aimed at raising awareness about medicines – brand or generic – that are not what they claim to be. Meanwhile, a Swiss pharmaceutical company official was named head of investigations at a top international public health organisation.
Global Patent Harmonisation Proceeding Outside WIPO – And Gently Within25/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentFor years, the developed countries that own the vast majority of the world’s patents – and therefore pay the majority of the revenues of the World Intellectual Property Organization – have looked unsuccessfully for a way to increase harmonisation of the global patent system through the UN agency. Developed countries have moved forward on their own, while WIPO is taking a gentle approach, encouraging member states “look below the headline issue” to a more “granular” level.
