Special Report: IP Protection Secondary To Support For Small African Innovators 19/11/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Systematic and sustained programmes aimed at identifying and supporting African innovative talent may be a key part of Africa’s technological evolution, according to researchers and young entrepreneurs interviewed by Intellectual Property Watch. In the second part of a two-part series highlighting innovation challenges in Africa, Intellectual Property Watch focuses on harnessing and nurturing African innovation talent.
Hands-On Or Hands-Off? ITU Debates Which Way for ICT Regulators 12/11/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United Nations International Telecommunication Union concluded its ninth Global Symposium for Regulators (GSR) with a call by industry leaders to governments to approach regulation with a “light touch” and “allow markets to evolve naturally,” according to an ITU press release. The symposium, held on 10–12 November in Beirut, brought together 648 delegates from 89 […]
US Groups Duel Over Access To ACTA Negotiation 09/11/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 7 Comments During the most recent negotiations on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) in Seoul, Korea on 4-6 November, about which no information is available, US industry and public interest groups issued statements taking widely divergent positions on progress of the talks.
Spurring Local Innovation In Africa By Improving Access To Information 19/10/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment Greater awareness of the existence of open access information resources for innovation and making the information easily accessible and relevant to developing country users could help spur innovation in these countries, according to top technical assistance providers and local innovators.
France’s HADOPI 2 Passes 15/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment [Correction: Before the bill can become law, the National Assembly and Senate must combine their passed bills, according to sources] French legislators today approved, by a vote 285 to 225, a pioneering bill (in French) allowing authorities to cut off internet access and impose fines on those found to have downloaded copyrighted material without authorisation. […]
Non-Commercial Groups Oppose Changes In ICANN Committee 09/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Structural reforms within the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that altered the representation of non-commercial interests of internet users in ICANN policy development are “seriously flawed,” according to the body’s non-commercial users’ group. ICANN is the non-profit body that provides technical coordination of the internet. An open letter, available here, was sent […]
Novartis Persists In Challenge To Indian Patent Law; India Rejects More AIDS Drugs Patents 02/09/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments Undeterred by two previous decisions by Indian authorities holding that under Indian Patent Law, its leukaemia drug – Gleevec is not patentable, Novartis now wants to take the fight to the Indian Supreme Court. Meanwhile, also this week, sources say Indian authorities rejected applications for patents on two HIV/AIDS drugs, opening the way for cheaper generic versions to be developed and marketed.
Drop In R&D Funding For HIV Vaccine 21/07/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Global research funding for HIV vaccine decreased by 10 percent in 2008 from the previous year, representing the first time the levels have fallen since investment trends have been tracked, according to a new report. The report was released this week by the HIV Vaccines and Microbicides Resource Tracking Working Group, an initiative of UNAIDS […]
US Measures To Strengthen Trade Enforcement 16/07/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk on Thursday announced new measures to strengthen the enforcement of the country’s trade rights seen as a key part of US economic recovery and growth strategy. “Our new approach to enforcement is simple,” Kirk said in a statement, available here. “We will deploy our resources more effectively to identify […]
Double Serving In Geneva: McDonald’s’ IP Tax Move 16/07/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment McDonald’s is shifting its European headquarters to Geneva in an apparent attempt to avoid new tax rules in the United Kingdom that would result in double taxation of revenues earned from intellectual property rights, according to a spokeswoman for McDonald’s quoted in the Guardian newspaper this week. The move seeks to benefit from advantageous intellectual […]