Divergences Slow Work Of WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee 05/12/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments By William New Lofty policies ostensibly aimed at helping communities protect traditional practices of global interest are under discussion at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week. But procedural differences so far have been bringing them to the ground. For the 30 November to 8 December Intergovernmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore […]
Indigenous Communal Moral Rights 04/12/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments By Molly Torsen A more and more robust literature on traditional cultural expressions is being written, discussed and even filtered into legislation. Most academic thinking on the topic agrees that Western intellectual property (IP) laws do not offer adequate or appropriate protection for certain types of creations. One example is the poor fit Western copyright […]
Balancing Patents and Standards Seen As Key For Mobile Phone Industry 01/12/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Technology companies have long recognised the importance to their economic growth of patents and standards, but increasingly they are focusing on the intersection of the two in order to seek changes to the patent system, industry experts told an event at the World Intellectual Property Organization on 29 November. The presenters were Tim Frain, director of IPR in the regulatory affairs department of Nokia Corporation, and Paul Davey, director of intellectual property at the Vodafone Group. Both industry representatives encouraged government officials in the audience to consider legislative remedies to problems they perceive in patents interfering with standards related to technological innovation. Davey and Frain discussed concerns that some holding licenses for technology may not be willing to recognise the need for access to standard-related patents in order to ensure the interoperability of technologies. Frain argued that the current patent regime “may no longer be sufficient,” and suggested a legislative change might be necessary.
The Music Process – Between New Business Models And Lawsuits 28/11/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Pedro Paranaguá. The traditional business model of the phonographic industry is being left behind by the competitiveness of new technologies. The technological world is evolving, but some businesses are struggling as they are not adapting themselves to the ever-increasing changes. Trying not to be left behind, the phonographic industry has preferred to use the […]
US-Russia Bilateral/WTO Deal Pushes New Standards For IP Protection 24/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New In its bilateral negotiation with the United States in order to join the World Trade Organization, Russia appears to have agreed to intellectual property rights standards that push those of the WTO and US law to new levels. IP issues have been a top priority for the United States in recent years […]
Draft EU-Caribbean Agreement Shows Escalated IP Provisions 17/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New A new “non-paper” by the European Communities on the economic partnership agreement under negotiation with 15 Caribbean countries shows an elevation of intellectual property standards above global trade rules. The new draft text prepared for the next round of negotiations and obtained by Intellectual Property Watch, appears to show the European Commission nudging the 15 nations of the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM) to adopt standards that exceed the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The draft text of the intellectual property sections, available to IP-Watch Monthly Subscribers, contains suggestions for the adoption of provisions based on the European Union enforcement directive, which has been criticised by some as overly restrictive. The text also refers to a range of treaties negotiated at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that are not required by TRIPS, including the so-called 1996 WIPO “Internet treaties” on performers and producers, as well as copyrights on the Internet. The draft treaty also has additional provisions on copyrights, patents, trademarks and Internet domain name processes, and the extension of additional protection for geographical indications. These are product names derived from specific geographical regions. Caribbean countries have long had special trade treatment with Europe. Negotiations to alter the relationship through an Economic Partnership Agreement were launched in 2004. The sides are working under a deadline of mid-2007 to replace the Coutonou agreement which was found to be inconsistent with WTO rules. The countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, which were collectively in an agreement with the European Union have been now separated by region. CARIFORUM members include: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. William New may be reached at wnew@ip-watch.ch.
Views Mixed On WTO Doha Declaration On Public Health After Five Years 16/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New A panel of key Geneva actors on policy related to intellectual property rights and public health on 14 November gave a range of views on the World Trade Organization Doha Declaration five years after its agreement. Several non-governmental groups and a developing country official saw some benefits but raised concerns about future […]
November Edition of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Now Available 15/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Intellectual Property Watch Monthly Reporter features the most important news on IP policymaking, the latest on who is coming and going in the IP community at the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Geneva missions, regional and national IP offices, industry and non-governmental organisations, plus News Briefs on reports and events that do not appear […]
A Call To Universities To Help Increase Global Medicines Access 15/11/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Rodrigo Cerda In the intellectual environment of universities, we have long discussed the tragic loss of life that occurs daily because sick people around the world cannot afford the drugs that could cure them. Indeed, we have reason to be worried: ten million people each year die from diseases that are treatable with existing […]
Revelan la estrategia de los países desarrollados sobre armonización de patentes y políticas sobre la OMPI 14/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen y William New El informe del grupo de países desarrollados de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) sobre una reunión celebrada en septiembre revela la estrategia encubierta de ese grupo sobre armonización de patentes, el Programa de la OMPI para el Desarrollo propuesto y la gobernanza de la […]