Top European IP Experts Hail CEIPI’s 50 Years With Vision, Suggestions For IP System 12/01/2015 by Elena Bourtchouladze for Intellectual Property Watch, James Cote for Intellectual Property Watch and Catherine Saez Leave a Comment The celebration late last year of the 50th anniversary of the Centre de Études Internationales de la Propriété Intellectuelle (CEIPI) at the Université de Strasbourg, France, brought together leading figures in the European IP community. Speakers hailed the origin and successes of the IP system in Europe, and had suggestions for what do better going forward.
Fight Against Ebola Gaining Ground As Vaccines Pass Tests, WHO Says 09/01/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization today optimistically announced progress in the search for efficient vaccines to fight the Ebola virus. Tests conducted so far show acceptable safety profiles, and public-private vaccine alliance Gavi has committed to fund Ebola vaccines.
At WIPO, Study On Copyright Exceptions Stimulates Broad Discussion With Author 18/12/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments During the recent meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee, a study was presented on exceptions and limitations to copyright for libraries and archives at the national level. The presentation spurred a full day of discussion about how to ensure libraries can continue to provide an indispensable service, and a substantive exchange with the author.
WIPO Members Conclude Year Positively With Copyright Committee, Despite No Changes To Text 14/12/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization’s last committee meeting of the year finished on an amiable note last week. The committee on copyright did not advance on text drafting but, according to the chair and a number of delegations, the weeklong meeting was an opportunity for extensive discussions on substance, the best in a long time.
WTO: Talks On GI Register Start, Tied To Other Negotiations In July 2015 Deadline 12/12/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An informal meeting of World Trade Organization members on a long-discussed register on geographical indications of wines and spirits today showed that member states were committed but not yet inclined to delve into the issues until they have a clearer picture of other sensitive topics of the Doha Round.
Copyright Exceptions For Libraries: WIPO Should Step Up Before Someone Else Does, Researcher Says 12/12/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments The author of a World Intellectual Property Organization-commissioned study said this week that WIPO should take the lead on the issue of limitations and exceptions to copyright for libraries, before the debate and the solution are left to other actors.
NGOs Offer Views For WIPO Members Creating IP Rights Treaty For Broadcasters 10/12/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization members have been working in relative secrecy this week to decide how far to apply intellectual property rights protections on broadcasts. To guide them, nongovernmental organisations offered a range of views, from sweeping protections to scaling back the proposed treaty.
At WIPO This Week: Broadcasting Treaty, Copyright Exceptions And Limitations 08/12/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After two difficult meetings, the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee is meeting this week with the hope of getting closer to a treaty protecting broadcasting organisations, although questions remain on scope and level of protection. The committee is also expected to find ways to work on exceptions and limitations to copyrights for libraries, archives, education and research, as developed countries oppose normative work, and developing countries want international instruments.
WTO Back At The Discussion Table On GI Register 08/12/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An informal meeting is scheduled to take place on 12 December at the World Trade Organization on a multilateral register for geographical indications of wines and spirits. The meeting is expected to discuss how to move the work in the negotiations, and how to reflect it in the post-Bali work programme, according to a source.
WIPO Seminar: For Access To Hepatitis C Treatments, Look At HIV Lessons 08/12/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A seminar on innovation and access to medicine last week examined the issue of access to hepatitis C treatment, looking at the HIV/AIDS path. Voluntary licences, such as the one entered by Gilead for its hepatitis drugs, have been applauded but such licences often do not cover middle-income countries, which are home to the bulk of hepatitis C patients, and whose poor populations remain unable to access treatment.