NetMundial Initiative: Still Breathing 06/03/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After a report by the Register’s Kieren McCarthy on a postponement of the inaugural meeting of the NetMundial Initiative (NMI) Council discussions were revived over the need for the new body in several mailing lists.
Annual USTR Notorious Markets Report Points Fingers, Includes Domain Registrars For First Time 06/03/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 10 Comments The fifth annual Office of the United States Trade Representative review of “notorious” intellectual property infringing markets has been released, pointing out the world’s biggest problem commercial-scale markets. And for the first time, the report takes aim at internet domain name registrars.
At WIPO, Experts Look At Challenges, Solutions For Successful Tech Transfer 05/03/2015 by Elena Bourtchouladze for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Low levels of research and development in developing countries, human capital deficit and construction of balanced intellectual property systems were at the centre of discussions at the recent Expert Forum on Technology Transfer at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
EU IP Policy Proposals, Initiatives Come Clear At 20th European IP Forum 04/03/2015 by Magda Voltolini for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – A recent gathering of IP owners, lawyers and government officials explored strategies and potential policies to fight counterfeiting and piracy.
Trade Outlook In 2015: The Race Of The Mega-Regionals 04/03/2015 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For international trade, 2015 will be “a year of work” rather than of finalisation, as Viviane Reding put it. The comment of the former European Commission vice president and Justice Commissioner focussed on the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA), as she is now the European Parliament’s rapporteur for TISA. The services agreement is still sailing under the radar compared to its bigger cousins, the US-EU bilateral Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). Yet “a year of work” might well describe the 2015 agenda for the mega-regional trade negotiations too. Will any of them get to the finish line? A race is on in which the United States and European Union seem to anxiously look to China’s advance while fighting rising opposition at home.
USPTO Acting Director Discusses Patent Quality, Pendency, Harmonisation 03/03/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At today’s meeting of the “trilateral offices” – the United States, Europe and Japan – Deputy Director of the US Patent and Trademark Office Michelle Lee gave an update of USPTO activities, including improvements in patent quality, patent pendency, and discussions about patent harmonisation.
Brazil’s Internet Legal Framework Regulation And Draft Bill For Privacy Law Public Consultation 03/03/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment On 28 January 2015, the Brazilian Ministry of Justice launched public consultations involving two key pieces of legislation, namely: the decree that will regulate the Marco Civil da Internet or the Brazilian Civil Rights Framework for the Internet (the “Internet Legal Framework”); and the Draft Bill for the Protection of Personal Data (“Draft Bill”). A consultation period is being conducted in relation to these two laws via online platforms set up by the government.
EPO Hits New Record In Patent Filings; US, China Rise 03/03/2015 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BRUSSELS – In 2014, patent filings at the European Patent Office (EPO) reached an all-time high, as announced by EPO President Benoît Battistelli last week at the traditional Annual Results Press Conference. Among key patenting trends were figures revealing strong growth in filings from the United States and China.
Global Fund Publishes Terms Of Reference Of Equitable Access Initiative 02/03/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An initiative spearheaded by the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to ensure equitable access to medicines in particular in middle-income countries now has a dedicated webpage publishing the terms of reference of the initiative. Also available is the list of high-level participants who attended the first meeting of the initiative held last week.
The Legal Implications Of Medicinal Marijuana As A Geographical Indication For Jamaica 02/03/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Although there are ongoing negotiations to revise the Lisbon Agreement for the international recognition of GIs, there is currently no uniform reciprocal legal recognition for non-wine and spirit GIs in international jurisdictions. Jamaica’s Cannabis (hereafter marijuana), is identified by its government as one of the country’s products which is domestically GI registrable, writes Marsha Cadogan.