Proponents Seek To Develop Policy Potential Of US Geographical Indications 31/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Advocates of stronger protection of geographical indications are working to develop greater awareness in Geneva policy circles, trying to win over countries reluctant to adopt a specific GI protection system.
US Court Ruling Casts Gene Patenting Into Doubt 30/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A New York federal court ruled yesterday that patents on genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer are invalid, in the first time a court decided that patents on genes are unlawful, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Right To Food Mandate Renewed By UN Agency 25/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The UN Human Rights Council yesterday extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food for three years. The resolution, A/HRC/13/L.17, adopted without a vote, requests that the special rapporteur “continue to monitor the evolution of the world food crisis and to maintain the council informed of the impact of the crisis […]
Google Claims Ads Found Not Infringing Trademarks 23/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The European Court of Justice has ruled that Google did not infringe trademark law “by allowing advertisers to bid for keywords corresponding to their competitors’ trademarks,” according to the Google blog. The internet search engine said it is satisfied with the ruling which, “confirmed that European law that protects internet hosting services applies to Google’s […]
WIPO Sees Decrease In Cybersquatting Complaints, Warns Of Domain Name Expansion 23/03/2010 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The expansion of internet domain names as proposed is worrying to trademark owners as a significant number cybersquatting cases continue to be filed in the World Intellectual Property Organization dispute resolution system, WIPO said this week. Meanwhile internet intermediaries should play a bigger role in the fight against trademark infringement, WIPO officials said.
2009 Tough For International Trademark Filings; 2010 Looking Up 18/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment International trademark filings plummeted in 2009 but trends should be reversed as the global economy regains strength with signs already showing in 2010, World Intellectual Property Organization’s Director General Francis Gurry said today.
European Broadcasters Call For Easier Copyright Clearance For Online Content 17/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment European Union copyright law needs to be amended so that the clearance of copyrights is simplified for online content, the European Broadcasting Union said today. The group presented the results of an analysis it conducted today at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Brazil Starts Public Consult On Retaliation Against US IP Rights 15/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Brazilian government today announced the start of a process of public consultation on suspension of concessions or obligations of intellectual property rights from the United States. The government on 15 March published a resolution of the Chamber of External Trade (CAMEX) launching the consultation, according to a Brazilian government press release. This follows a […]
US On International Trade Crusade With New Agenda 11/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The recently released US annual trade agenda shows an intention to conquer new international markets, strengthen the global trade system and enforce obligations and US intellectual property rights. The US also means to address what they consider as trade barriers. [Update: President Obama spoke on the trade agenda today, more below.]
FAO Conference Draws Ire From Civil Society; Industry Satisfied By Event 09/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments A recent UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference on the benefits of agricultural biotechnologies in Guadalajara, Mexico, sparked strong reactions from peasant organisations and civil society.