Irony? Publisher Celebrates IP By Revoking IP 26/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment There’s no better way to celebrate something than by doing the opposite of it. That seems to be the message of a leading publishing company. In a campaign today to hail the virtues of intellectual property, it appears to be hoping to gain goodwill – and possibly some sales – by removing intellectual property on its products.
In US, Growing Battle Over Offensive Trademarks 26/04/2016 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is not admitting defeat. It is still refusing to register trademarks that disparage people, even though this policy violates the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech, according to a December decision by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. The USPTO has appealed the court ruling, and many experts expect the Supreme Court will soon rule on whether there is constitutional protection for disparaging marks. [Updated!]
Innovative R&D Financing Discussed At Geneva Health Forum 26/04/2016 by Priti Patnaik for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The recent Geneva Health Forum captured the fevered pitch in the larger ongoing conversation around innovative financing for research and development for public health. A new report on a voluntary pooled fund for neglected diseases was discussed at the forum.
WHO Debates Changes To Safeguards Against Undue Influence By Outside Actors 26/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments This week a group of delegates at the UN World Health Organization is seeking to finalise agreement on a draft framework defining the organisation’s relationships with external actors, such as philanthropy, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Today, Norway put forward a potential compromise. Meanwhile, dozens of civil society organisations called on member states to stand up to pressure to compromise the intergovernmental body’s independence from private sector influence.
MPP Amends HIV Licensing Agreement To Cover More Countries 25/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Medicines Patent Pool announced today that its current licensing agreement with ViiV Healthcare for a new antiretroviral drug will be extended to all lower middle-income countries.
WIPO Members Set To Decide On Industrial Design Treaty Negotiation 25/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A potential treaty to facilitate international applications for industrial designs for creators is on the agenda of a meeting next week at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Also on the meeting agenda is the protection of country name registration and use as trademarks, and a proposed geographical indications filing system.
WIPO Digital Rightsholders Conference Ponders Business Ideas 25/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Last week’s World Intellectual Property Organization conference on the digital content business gathered speakers from different sectors of industry, from content producers to authors and performers. Rightsholders and others gave updates and tried to advance strategies for managing rights in a digital market.
At WIPO: All-Women Panel Of Broadcast Journalists Discuss Revolution In Industry 22/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment “What we are going through is nothing short of a revolution,” announced a leading radio and television broadcast editor, speaking yesterday at a World Intellectual Property Organization event on digital content. But the revolution seems to be coming in “snack-sized” portions, said speakers.
IP Should Serve More Actors In New Ways, Keynote Speaker At WIPO Says 21/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The much-advertised World Intellectual Property Organization conference on the digital content market kicked off with a visionary speaker calling for the broadening of intellectual property rights income as a way forward for a sustainable economic ecosystem and reducing inequalities. The WIPO director general meanwhile said digital technology has brought new possibilities and reduced prices but also carries its load of regulatory challenges.
Despite Government Pledge, US Firms Say They Are Left On Own For Cyber Theft Protection 21/04/2016 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States government continues to ratchet up its rhetoric against state-sponsored “cyber” theft of intellectual property, but private firms largely report that they have to take matters into their own hands.