New Draft Text At WIPO On Protection Of Traditional Knowledge 27/03/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This morning, the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge issued a revised set of draft articles of an international instrument aimed at protecting traditional knowledge against misappropriation.
Indigenous Peoples Present Their Perspectives On Traditional Knowledge At WIPO 25/03/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch and Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Representatives of indigenous peoples opened a key meeting at the World Intellectual Property Organization with a discussion of the definition of traditional knowledge (TK), the presence of TK in the public domain, and respect for indigenous peoples’ rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
WIPO TK Committee Chair Adjourns Session Abruptly, Demands Clear Positions 24/03/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization meeting on traditional knowledge and folklore meeting this week was abruptly adjourned by the chair this afternoon, to reconvene tomorrow morning, with a head-on challenge to governments.
US Corporate IP Counsel Hear Latest Updates On Patent System 24/03/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK – “This is a very, very exciting time be in patent law,” Drew Hirshfeld, deputy commissioner for patent examination policy at the US Patent and Trademark Office, told a group of intellectual property lawyers last week. In his keynote address to the 19-20 March Corporate IP Counsel meeting in Manhattan, Hirshfeld and a range of private sector speakers laid out a picture of a highly dynamic field, with legal and business opportunities and challenges changing every day.
Analysis Shows Mixed Results On Big Pharma R&D Efforts For TB 24/03/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In time for World TB Day today, an analysis has been published of research and development being carried out for tuberculosis by the 20 largest pharmaceutical companies.
WIPO In Marathon Two Weeks To Advance On Protection Of TK And Folklore 24/03/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members today launched a marathon meeting to advance work on a potential legal instrument to protect traditional knowledge and folklore from misappropriation and exploitation. The committee, which has been convening for well over 10 years, is hoping to finalise texts over the next two weeks.
WIPO Design Treaty Fate Left To Assembly, Despite Shift On Technical Assistance 21/03/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks could not agree this week to recommend the convening of a high-level meeting to adopt a treaty on industrial designs.
NTIA Seeks “Solid Proposal” On IANA Transition To Reassure US Stakeholders 21/03/2014 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Lawrence Strickling, the United States assistant secretary of Commerce, today called on the internet community to come up with a “solid proposal” for the transition of the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), from the US to a new multi-stakeholder oversight model. IANA is responsible for changes made to the internet domain name system.
GIs Make A Controversial Re-Entry Into WIPO Committee On Trademarks 21/03/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Geographical indications appear in the name of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks, but had been neglected there for years, merely appearing on the agenda. Now the issue has actively returned to the committee, seemingly challenging efforts in a parallel working group at WIPO.
UN Praises US Pullback Of Internet Control 20/03/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations Secretary General and head of the UN International Telecommunication Union earlier this week applauded an announcement by the United States government that it plans to relinquish its remaining control over the internet domain name system.