Small-Scale Farmers’ Innovation Overlooked In WIPO Negotiations, Panellists Say 07/02/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A side event hosted by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) this week called on negotiators at the World Intellectual Property Organization to include innovation by small-scale farmers and asked for complementarity of several international instruments dealing with this issue.
EPO Appeals Board Upholds Ruling Limiting Stem Cell Patentability 07/02/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A European Patent Office (EPO) Boards of Appeal this week handed down a verdict in the area of stem cell patenting that could provide further guidance on what is patentable under the European Patent Convention (EPC) when it comes to biotechnology.
New CBD Access And Benefit Sharing Clearing-House Website Presented At WIPO 07/02/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new website of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will allow tracking of the use of genetic resources in order to ensure access and benefit-sharing of those resources.
Developing Countries Urged To Beat Biopiracy With Patent Examination, Regulatory Frameworks 07/02/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment While World Intellectual Property Organization members seek ways to address the issue of biopiracy, speakers at a side event to this week’s negotiations said the phenomenon is widespread. According to them, very few patent applicants source the origin of the resources they have used and on which they seek claims. Some measures can be taken […]
Study Maps Global Distribution Of Genetic Resources In Patented Claims 06/02/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A study of patent activity in the United Kingdom shows widespread global distribution of genetic resources used by UK innovators. The implications of international rules on access and benefit sharing will need to be communicated to these groups, who will among other things have to start assessing their supply chains to ensure full compliance throughout, according to the study author.
Indigenous Panel At WIPO Asks For International Instrument Compliant With Recognised Rights 06/02/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A panel addressing negotiators this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization asserted the property rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities over traditional knowledge and genetic resources and called on delegates to draft an international instrument compliant with their internationally recognised rights.
New WIPO Text On Genetic Resources Misappropriation; Disclosure Still Uncertain 06/02/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization member countries are working to get past their differences this week toward agreement on a way to protect genetic resources from biopiracy. A new document shows focus on misappropriation as a policy objective, and that a bridge still needs to be found on the issue of mandatory disclosure of origin in patent applications.
EU Parliament Passes Directive On Collective Rights Management, Pan-EU Licences 04/02/2014 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments With 640 of 680 votes, the European Parliament today passed a new directive on “collective management of copyright and related rights and multi-territorial licensing of rights in musical works for online uses in the internal market.” Rarely before has the usually controversial subject of copyright rallied such broad agreement in Parliament.
Amid Proposals, Ambassadors Fail To Unlock WIPO Talks On TK, GRs 04/02/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee working on ways to protect genetic resources and traditional knowledge opened a weeklong meeting yesterday by gathering country ambassadors to try to inject momentum into discussions. But after the session, it appeared that many delegations had restated known positions. Everybody seemed to agree on broad goals, but not on the way to reach them.
WIPO Director General Election: How It Works 03/02/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On 6 March, the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization will hold its once-every-six-year election for a director general, a prized post in the multilateral system. Tomorrow (4 February), the candidates will face member states and take questions. Intellectual Property Watch explains the process.