Zephyr Of Hope For Longstanding Issues At WIPO Committee On Development And IP 13/11/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A lighter mood seems to have set in at the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP), after a year of what was qualified as a cycle of disagreements by some. Although delegates reiterated previous positions on some longstanding agenda items, some middle-ground alternatives seem to have gained attention.
WIPO Committee On Development And IP Opens With Overloaded Agenda 10/11/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) opened today with a heavy agenda and open issues that carried over from past sessions. In particular, delegates are expected to find agreement on a list of speakers, which would unlock the convening of an international conference on IP and development. They also must agree on the terms of reference of an independent review of WIPO’s implementation of the 45 Recommendations of the 2007 Development Agenda.
Global Differences On Patents Lead WIPO Patent Law Committee To Stumble On Future Work 10/11/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Once again, differences over the role of a World Intellectual Property Organization committee last week came in the way of consensus and prevented delegates from agreeing on future work. At the heart of the discontent was the perceived imbalance of the proposed programme of work, which some said disregarded the interests of developing countries. A speaker for the African region gave a striking speech on the Ebola crisis as an example of the failure of the patent system.
WTO, WHO, WIPO Examine IPRs And Middle-Income Countries 06/11/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The current income-based grouping of countries needs to be changed or access to medicines in middle-income countries will worsen, several speakers said yesterday at a joint meeting between three international organisations on health, trade, and intellectual property. But middle-income countries should step up their engagement in organisations such as the World Health Organization, according to WHO and civil society.
Work-Sharing Between Patent Offices: Key To Reducing Backlog, Or Harmonisation Threat? 05/11/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Quality of patents is an issue that has been repeatedly discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on patent law, which is meeting this week.
Limitations And Exceptions To Patent Rights Discussed In WIPO Committee 04/11/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization patent law committee this week is addressing a range of issues including patent quality, technology transfer for medicine production, limitations and exceptions to patents, and the confidentiality of communications between clients and their patent advisors.
Geographical Indications At WIPO: Members Dissent On Participation In Treaty Talks 31/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Members of a World Intellectual Property Organization treaty protecting appellations of origins who are seeking to revise that treaty to include geographical indications were opposed this week by several WIPO member states seeking to have a say in the adoption of the revision. The issue has raised a question for WIPO about participation in treaties and agreements.
TRIPS Council Debates: Tobacco Packaging, Non-Violation Disputes, Innovation, Health Waiver, UNCTAD 30/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This week’s meeting of the World Trade Organization body governing intellectual property issues addressed a long agenda, reflecting continued divergence on regular items, such as complaints that do not involve breach of a WTO agreement, a health waiver, and sustained discussions on plain packaging for tobacco products.
First Innovation Fair Hosted At WTO, Draws Diverse Projects With IP In Mind 29/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization hosted an Innovation Fair on 28 October, gathering inventors, supporting agencies, and patent offices. A number of inventions were displayed and explained, from concrete walls to motorisation for bicycles.
Draft Revision To Provide Higher Protection To GIs Fine-Tuned At WIPO 28/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The contracting parties of the agreement protecting appellations of origin at the World Intellectual Property Organization are meeting this week to fine-tune a draft revision of this agreement to include geographical indications. The end of the week is scheduled to be devoted to a preparatory committee of a high-level negotiating meeting in 2015 to adopt the revision.