Did EU Council Conclusions On IP Enforcement Overlook Patent Trolls? 16/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A coalition of companies holding patents in Europe has welcomed conclusions released this week by the Council of the European Union on tougher enforcement of intellectual property rights. But the group raised concern that the conclusions failed to recognise the steady rise in the EU of patent-assertion entities, or patent trolls.
Study – Education About IP Is Low For Non-Lawyers, Even In Top IP Nations 16/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Countries highly dependent on intellectual property rights do little to educate people not working in the IP field about the importance of such rights, an industry-backed study has found.
UN Member States Briefed On Innovation And Access To Health Technologies 14/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK — A major event on innovation and access to health technologies took place at the United Nations in New York last week, in which UN member states were briefed on ideas and efforts to promote these issues at the forefront of global health policy.
Sir John Sulston, Human Genome Project Leader, Remembered For Words On IP And Health R&D 14/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Nobel Prize winner Sir John Sulston passed away on 6 March at the age of 75, and was widely remembered in the press and scientific circles, celebrating his research, his wisdom, and his leadership of the landmark Human Genome Project. Intellectual Property Watch recalls his visionary warning and advice a decade ago about the intellectual property system, investment, and science that is still valuable today.
US Copyright Royalty Board Boosts Songwriters’ Streaming Pay Nearly 50% 14/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Variety reports: The [US] Copyright Royalty Board has ruled to increase songwriter rates for interactive streaming by nearly 50% over the next five years, in a ruling issued early Saturday. Equally important, the CRB simplified and strengthened the manner in which songwriters are paid mechanical royalties, modifying terms in a way that offers a foothold in the free-market.
Introduction Of A Grace Period In Europe 13/03/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The protection of inventions is a cornerstone to encourage innovation as engine of economic growth. As one of the world‘s leading centres for innovation, the level of scientific and technological performance in Germany is very high, thanks to an excellent research landscape and a good technological and economic basis. But the global innovation competition is intensifying, and new competitors are seeking to enter international markets. However, Germany is falling short of its potential when it comes to leveraging technology to create new products, writes Michael Kahnert.
EU Council’s IP Enforcement Changes: Judicial Systems, Customs, Open Source, WIPO – And An IP Watchlist 12/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Council of ministers today adopted a set of conclusions on the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the European Union, aimed at improving protection in the digital era and promoting innovation. This includes a list of suggested actions, including possible changes to national laws and judicial systems, bolstering customs, agreements with industry, encouraging open source, strong representation at the World Intellectual Property Organization, and possibly setting up an IP watch list reminiscent of the one in the United States.
New TPP Still Most Advanced IP Trade Agreement Ever, Think Tank Says 09/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is on track to offer “the most advanced and detailed standards on intellectual property in a trade agreement to date” despite revisions scaling back the IP chapter after the United States dropped out, says the Washington, DC-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
US Generic-Named Food Industries Cry For US Government Help Against ‘Relentlessly Aggressive’ EU 09/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Something that was unimaginable just a few years ago: What if Americans could not buy ordinary bologna, feta or parmesan cheese? Or worse, make them and export them under those names? The industry group in the United States representing a range of products like those today called on the US government to help them defend their products and their jobs against what they called “purposeful,” “relentless” and “aggressive” efforts by Europe to promote adoption of geographical indications (products named for places and with particular characteristics) to the detriment of the US common-named goods.
‘Mede In China’: US Customs May Bring In Rights-Holders To Help Stop Counterfeiters 09/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) this week said it is considering sharing more information with the intellectual property rights holders about possible counterfeit goods entering the US, in order to improve prevention. But CBP said it is still unclear whether changes in the law will be required to allow it to do this.