Failsafe Tips For Identifying And Developing Potentially Valuable Patents 20/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments It’s easy to find valuable and useful patents, if you have small patent portfolios, but it can be a daunting task when portfolios contain hundreds or thousands of patents. Yet this task is critical for any business, and especially for technology companies that typically hold significant portfolios.
Leaked IP Chapter Of Asian FTA Reveals Tough Rules For Poorer Partners, Civil Society Says 20/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The alleged intellectual property chapter of a secretive regional trade agreement between an association of ten Asian countries plus six others was released yesterday by a civil society group, which says richer countries in the region are pushing for stringent IP rules.
WIPO IP And Development Conference Looks At Dynamic IP Systems 19/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Countries develop intellectual property systems in different ways, and a recent conference at the World Intellectual Property Organization delved into some thoughts about, and examples of, how this is done.
Uganda In The Process Of Signing Swakopmund And Arusha Protocols 19/04/2016 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment KAMPALA — The Republic of Uganda is in the process of signing the Swakopmund Protocol on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore, and the Arusha Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants.
WIPO Committee Adopts New Development Projects, Agrees Future Work, Stumbles On Technical Assistance 18/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization committee members last week agreed some new development projects and advanced discussions on the agency’s development dimension, including technical assistance, technology transfer and ties to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But negotiators could not complete a near-breakthrough on compromise measures to sharpen WIPO technical assistance through new guidelines, seminars, measurement tools, coordination, and tighter rules on selection of consultants.
Russia: New Amendments Would Allow Use Of Inventions Without Permission Of Patent Holders 18/04/2016 by Eugene Gerden for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Russian government is considering approval of a package of controversial amendments to national legislation that would allow the use of inventions without the permission of patent holders.
WIPO Members Flirt With Agreement On WIPO Technical Assistance 15/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Technical assistance provided by the World Intellectual Property Organization and the United Nations agency’s technology transfer-related activities were discussed at length by WIPO member governments this week. At press time on the final day of a weeklong meeting, an updated proposal by Spain appeared to be bringing members nearer consensus on the way forward on WIPO technical assistance.
Study Finds Gaps In Africa-EU Health Research And Innovation Links 15/04/2016 by Munyaradzi Makoni for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Health research collaborations between Africa and Europe do not match up with Africa’s own stated funding intentions, says a report published by a European Union-funded project.
Trade Secrets Directive Clears European Parliament Despite Concerns 14/04/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Rejecting calls for a vote to be delayed until the European Commission proposes tougher whistle-blower protections, the European Parliament on 14 April approved by 503-131 new rules giving companies redress for theft or misuse of trade secrets. Debate on the trade secrets directive showed sharp divisions among lawmakers, heightened by the recent “Panama Papers” and other leaks, over whether the legislation will help businesses safeguard their innovative ideas or lead to increased corporate secrecy.
Analysis: WTO Amendment On Access To Medicines Faces EU Conundrum 14/04/2016 by Peter Ungphakorn for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments After waiting for over a decade, the World Trade Organization is finally close to achieving the first ever amendment to its rule-book, with only a handful of members still needing to formally accept new intellectual property provisions dealing with one aspect of access to medicines. Two thirds of the membership (108 of the WTO’s present 162 members) have to ratify or “accept” the amendment (on exporting medicines made under compulsory licence) before it can take effect. The number of accepting members is finally approaching 108. This has exposed a discrepancy in the way the European Union’s membership is counted. And that in turn raises questions over when the 108 is actually reached. Worse, the counting method the EU uses could even prevent some amendments ever taking effect.