WIPO To Discuss Role Of Patents In Access To Water 14/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has waded into the global debates over access to safe drinking water, with an upcoming workshop on patents and water purification technologies.
Ukraine WTO Trademark Dispute Vs. Australia Tests Public Health Measures 14/03/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Ukraine yesterday filed a World Trade Organization dispute settlement case against Australia for its 2011 law requiring plain packaging on tobacco in an effort to address the severe public health problem related to its use. The case could represent an important measure of the power of trade interests versus public health decisions by governments.
WHO Under Siege By Private Sector, Group Asserts 13/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization is under siege by private sector forces using their financial leverage to gain undue influence in the financially beleaguered United Nations agency, a developing country-oriented group has said.
Paper: States Need To Be Cautious With Internet Intermediary Liability 08/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new paper from a Yale Law lecturer has outlined some general principles that governments must consider when imposing liability for internet intermediaries amid the lack of an international law covering online third-party liability.
A High-Level Collegium Calls For New Global Governance 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A collegium of scientists, philosophers and former heads of state launched an appeal yesterday in Geneva for world governance they called “Global Solidarity, Global Responsibility.”
Berlin Court Rules Facebook Violates User Rights 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The District Court of Berlin, Germany, yesterday ruled that user rights were violated by several parts of social media site Facebook’s general terms and conditions and by its “friendfinder” feature. With regard to copyright law, the automatic worldwide exploitation right granted by users clicking off the terms and conditions was invalid, the court ruled.
US Congressman Posts ACTA For Open Debate 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A United States congressional representative has posted the text of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to the internet and is calling for public comments out of the fear that the agreement will harm the open internet.
EU Digital Commissioner: Open Public Data, The Oil Of The Digital Age 05/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda, today called for public data to be opened up for all to use, somewhat akin to providing the free oil of the digital age.
WIPO Sets Record For International Patent Filings In 2011; LDCs Not A Factor 05/03/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization today announced that it had set a new record for filings of patents at the international level in 2011, in what the UN agency attributed to a focus on innovation. Patents filed under the WIPO-managed Patent Cooperation Treaty shot up more than 10 per cent last year in the fastest growth since 2005, and a Chinese company took top honour for most filings.
UN Human Rights Council Rallies On Right To Internet Freedom Of Expression 29/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments With tension seeming to brim just beneath the surface, human rights officials from around the world came together today at the United Nations in Geneva to talk about ways to keep the internet open and nationally regulated at the same time. There were no decisions, and wide differences in views, but the first-of-its-kind panel might have laid the ground for future work on internet freedom and human rights. Intellectual property rights were mentioned several times.