International Law Enforcement Steps Up Battle Against ‘Darknet’ IP Theft 17/11/2016 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A recent multinational crackdown on illegal activity in the anonymous channels of the so-called Darknet resulting in multiple arrests around the world was intended to thwart rampant online intellectual property theft. But how much the dragnet will help to thwart cybercrime in the future remains in question.
Intellectual Property In Russia To Become Subject Of Antitrust Regulation 17/11/2016 by Eugene Gerden for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property in Russia will become a subject of antitrust regulation starting next year, according to recent statements of an official spokesman of the Russian Federal Anti-Monopoly Service (FAS).
Message To WIPO: Here’s The Assistance We African Inventors Really Need 16/11/2016 by Justus Wanzala for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — Patent protection is a challenge to many an inventor in developing countries. Inventors in most African countries, for instance, are compelled to surmount huge obstacles to protect their inventions. In order to remedy the situation, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum has launched an Inventor Assistance Programme (IAP). Now, the local inventor community in Kenya has a few words for WIPO on how to expand the programme to make it more effective on the ground. Trust is one of them.
WIPO To Use Creative Commons Licences For All Of Its Publications 16/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The UN World Intellectual Property Organization, the foremost international body for intellectual property rights, today announced that it will make all of its publications available under Creative Commons licences – which said it helped to develop along with other organisations. The move, made along with a wide range of other major international organisations, is an effort to make its publications as widely accessible as possible, an indirect nod to the limiting nature of copyright.
New Alliance To Hold UN And Others Accountable For Antimicrobial Resistance Commitments 16/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new international alliance to support the United Nations Resolution on Antimicrobial Resistance was launched this week. The Conscience of Antimicrobial Resistance Accountability (CARA) aims to bring together organisations committing to reporting on mutually agreed upon indicators in countries around the world, and to hold the UN and other stakeholders accountable to their commitments.
Panel Explores Relation Between Plant Breeders’ Convention And Plant Treaty 16/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment When countries belong to several international instruments, some aspects of those instruments may run contradictory to one another. A symposium held recently by the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) sought to explore the interrelations between the convention and the international treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Farmers’ rights lie at the intersection of the two treaties and while some find the treaties complementary, some others view them as contradictory on farmers’ rights. Meanwhile, farmers themselves have been blocked from participating in deliberations.
Outgoing USPTO Director Lee Sees Legislative Changes On IP In Next Administration, Congress 15/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Now in her final weeks in office [Update: she has continued in the role under President Trump], United States Patent and Trademark Office Director Michelle Lee today looked back over the Obama administration’s work on patents and made predictions for the next administration due to take over in January. She hailed the outgoing administration’s successes and said to expect a continued focus on a strong IP system, legislative changes on hot button issues but not right away, and continued engagement around the world.
Report: Use Of Social Media And Apps Under Assault; China Is Worst Abuser – Worse Than Syria 15/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Governments around the world are increasingly cracking down on use of communications apps like WhatsApp and Facebook. Of the 65 countries assessed, governments in 24 impeded access to social media and communication tools, up from 15 in the previous year, the report said.
Countries Asked To Revise IP Laws Preventing Implementation Of Farmers’ Rights 15/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A global consultation on farmers’ rights recently co-organised by Indonesia and Norway provided recommendations to the international plant treaty, calling for the establishment of an ad hoc working group on farmers’ rights. They also recommended that contracting parties of the treaty revise their intellectual property laws and other legislation that may create obstacles for the realisation of farmers’ rights.
US Secrecy Prevails In German Constitutional Court 15/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The German constitutional court has rebuffed a second complaint seeking to allow oversight bodies to see the US National Security Administration (NSA) selector list.