Coherence Needed To Avoid Multilateral Legal Swamp, WTO Told 22/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The multilateral system with its different agencies dealing with specific areas is sometimes seen as incoherent in global negotiations and norm-setting as there are overlaps in competency, definition and scope, according to speakers at a side event to the recent World Trade Organization Public Forum.
Spanish Collecting Society Targets Group Proposing Alternative Royalty System 22/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A Spanish group lobbying for alternative ways to protect and promote creative production has been asked to cease activity or face a lawsuit for damages, unfair competition and infringement by the Spanish collecting society SGAE (Sociedad General de Autores y Editores), according to the group. The collecting society also charged that the lobbying group is undermining its reputation.
Europe Acts On Visually Impaired Reader Access 19/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The European Blind Union and the Federation of European Publishers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on access to works for dyslexic or visually impaired readers on 14 September.
China Defies Global Trend In Patent and Trademark Applications, WIPO Says 15/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The global economic crisis led to a significant drop in patent and trademarks filings in 2008 and particularly in 2009 but there are signs of recovery, according to the World Intellectual Property Indicators 2010 report released today. China is still showing vigorous growth and demand in intellectual property protection.
Swiss Supreme Court Forbids Rights Holder Access To IP Addresses 14/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Swiss Supreme Court Forbids Rights Holders’ Access to Personal IP Addresses The Swiss Federal Supreme Court took a decision on 8 September preventing the collection of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses by private companies.
African Traditional Knowledge And Folklore Given IP Protection Despite Warning Of TK Commodification 12/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Some African nations signed a protocol on the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore at the beginning of August gaining the praise of the World Intellectual Property Organization. However, a United Nations report launched in January warned against the application of western legal and economic principles to collectively owned knowledge in traditional communities.
NGOs Warn On IP In Trans Pacific Trade Agreement 10/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A coalition of some two dozen non-governmental organisations yesterday sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative raising concern about the impact on access to medicines of intellectual property provisions in a regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement, known as the Trans Pacific Partnership, which is under negotiation. The coalition led by Public Citizen warned against […]
Human Survival Depends On Shared Technology, Says New UN Climate Chief 03/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In between climate change conferences, Christiana Figueres, newly appointed executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was in Geneva yesterday to attend a ministerial meeting convened by the Swiss and Mexican governments on climate change finance.
US Looking For New Tack On IP Rights With BRIC Countries 03/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Developed countries are looking for ways to address the ongoing lack of intellectual property enforcement and efforts to bypass international trade obligations in the four biggest emerging global economies, as well as emulation of this behaviour by other emerging economies in particular as the four countries have a stronger voice in international fora, a panel of United States trade experts said this week.
Third Try Set For CBD Biodiversity Benefit-Sharing Treaty 02/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The third attempt at concluding negotiations on a draft protocol text on international biodiversity access and benefit-sharing will take place in Montreal on 18-21 September, according to official sources. Delegates at the meeting will try to agree on the text, before the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in Nagoya, Japan, in October. […]