Leading IP Offices Target Patent Backlog, Economy; Differ On Harmonisation 10/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The backlog in patent processing could impose £7.6 billion (about USD$11.3 billion) in annual expenses on the global economy within the next five years if nothing is done to fix it, according to a new economics study from the United Kingdom released this morning before directors of several top global intellectual property offices.
Google, ITU Address Policies Of Global Internet Freedom 09/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments A representative of Google and of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union today spoke of internet freedom in repressive regimes and censorship in Western democracies.
Global Fund Reports On Progress Toward UN Health Goals 08/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United Nations goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS is within reach, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria said in a progress report released today.
Submissions To US Unilateral IP Enforcement Process Highlight Piracy, Health, and ACTA 05/03/2010 by Catherine Saez and Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Submissions to the United States annual review of how well it says the rest of the world is protecting US intellectual property are being assessed this week, with marked changes from previous years.
WTO GIs Group Continues Work On Topic “Clusters” 05/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization group tasked with negotiating an international register for geographical indications (product names associated with a particular place and characteristics) on wines and spirits will continue to discuss a set of questions and principles about the GI register. The group met yesterday in a formal Special Session. But positions of member states […]
EFF, 7,000 Petitioners Urge FCC To Protect Net Neutrality 04/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Electronic Frontier Foundation yesterday submitted a petition to the United States Federal Communications Commission demanding the FCC fill a loophole in its internet regulations that could allow for internet filtering of allegedly copyright infringing content. The petition accompanies a more extensive set of comments [pdf] on proposed FCC rules on internet neutrality, also sent […]
USTR Offers Answers To Some Thorny Questions On ACTA 03/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A letter from the United States government answering a variety of sticky questions about the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement has been released online. The 28 January letter is addressed to Senator Ron Wyden (Democrat, Oregon) from US Trade Representative Ron Kirk.
WTO TRIPS Council Considers Workshop On Public Health Amendment 02/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Trade Organization group on intellectual property rights met today and ended early, discussing a potential workshop on an amendment intended to ease access to cheaper generic medicines in countries without a pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, a new proposal from Bolivia and three separate longstanding IP issues with no major changes.
New ACTA Leak Details Differences, Broadening Scope 02/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new document on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) under negotiation has been circulated online. While it is unclear who it was leaked to, a copy of it is available here [pdf]. Apparently a working document from the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union to its delegations, it contains a comparative table […]
Efficacy Of TRIPS Public Health Amendment In Question At WTO 01/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments World Trade Organization members this week will hear a report on an informal meeting on an amendment to intellectual property trade rules intended to allow easier access to medicines, which some argue has had a flawed design from its inception.