WIPO Survey Seeks Public Input On UN Agency’s Development Agenda24/12/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentInterested observers have a unique opportunity until mid-January to give their views on the landmark 2007 World Intellectual Property Organization Development Agenda, including its implementation, relevance, impact, effectiveness, efficiency in use of resources, and its sustainability.
EU Trade Secrets Deal Wins Wary Support from Industry, Free Speech Advocates22/12/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentIndustry and public interest groups have welcomed the provisional deal by the European Parliament and EU Council on protection of business know-how and trade secrets but say some of its provisions, particularly on protection of whistleblowers who disclose corporate information, remain troublesome.
Brazil, Australia Ratify Marrakesh Treaty For Visually Impaired, Seven To Go17/12/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentLast week, the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty which is expected to facilitate access to special format works for blind and visually impaired people gained two more ratifications, bringing the accession to the treaty to 13. The treaty will enter into force three months after the accession of the 20th member.
Exceptions To Copyright To Remain On Agenda Of WIPO Copyright Committee17/12/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsCopyright exceptions for libraries, archives, educational and research institutions and persons with disabilities other than visual impairment will remain on the agenda of the next session of the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee. The subject is touchy as developing countries deem those exceptions vital for development and developed countries say that the current global copyright framework leaves enough space for national exceptions to copyright.
WSIS+10: Roles, Responsibilities Remain Hot; Cybersecurity Treaty Demanded By Many States16/12/2015 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 CommentsBetween a lot of applause this week for the first post-WSIS (World Summit on the Information Society) decade and especially for the negotiated agreement for the coming 10 years, some cracks appeared. These tell how differently regions still view roles and responsibilities for critical infrastructure management, and also the discrepancy between declaration and deployment of principles of the information society. In a notable statement, Mitchell Baker, chair of the Mozilla Foundation, warned that governments still have to learn how to govern the connected.
Alongside WTO Ministerial, Officials Stress Gains On TRIPS And Health16/12/2015 by Fredrick Nzwili for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentNAIROBI, Kenya — On the sidelines of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Summit this week in Nairobi, senior officials from the Kenya government, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), civil society and others discussed a WTO intellectual property rights amendment on public health to better enable poor nations to access essential medicines.
UN Launches High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines16/12/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 CommentsA United Nations high-level panel of experts has set a process in motion to find solutions to increase access to medicines. Following its first meeting last week, the panel will call for proposals to recommend solutions that can promote innovation, but preserve human rights and public health interests.
US Agency Stripped Of Power To Regulate Internet16/12/2015 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAmerica’s International Trade Commission is a tempting venue for US intellectual property owners. The agency acts quickly, has a history of supporting IP owners, and offers a powerful means to stop infringing products from entering the US. So when the ITC expanded its jurisdiction last year, claiming the power to stop online infringements, many IP owners cheered. And many internet companies fretted. Until last month, when the Federal Circuit had its say.
EU Trade Secrets, Trademark Measures Advance15/12/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe European Parliament and Luxembourg Presidency today agreed provisionally on EU-wide rules for the protection of trade secrets and confidential information, the Presidency announced. The European Parliament also approved a trademark reform package that aims to make registration cheaper, quicker and more reliable, and will give a new name to the EU trademark office: the EU IP Office.
Unease Over Seconded Philanthropic Foundation Staff To Top Management At WHO15/12/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThird World Network reports: Philanthropic foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations Foundation have seconded their staffers to top management positions at the World Health Organization.
