Member States Seek Details Of UN Investigation On Alleged Misconduct At WIPO 12/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments A longstanding inquiry about alleged misconduct at the top of the World Intellectual Property Organization may be moving toward resolution one way or the other.
South African Trade Minister Opens WIPO Conference With Call For Appropriate IP 07/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A two-day international conference on intellectual property and development opened today at the World Intellectual Property Organization with calls from speakers for the IP system to be applied by nations in ways appropriate to their economies, even if it means allowing copying – just as the biggest IP-holding nations did when they were developing years ago. The theme was set by the opening keynote speaker, South African Trade Minister Rob Davies.
Review Of WHO Pandemic Flu Sharing System Moves Ahead 05/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Members of a team reviewing at the World Health Organization framework for ensuring global pandemic influenza preparedness moved ahead with their proceedings last week. They found both support for the framework, and also concerns.
Digital Rights Groups: DMCA Reform Should Target Takedown Abuse, Errors 03/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Advocacy groups supporting digital rights and access online joined rights holders and artists in calling for reform to the United States law intended to balance copyright protection with the free flow of information on the internet. But the advocacy groups say the problem may be rights holders’ improper takedowns of online content and errors in the system.
Artists, Music Industry Urge Reform Of “Broken” DMCA 01/04/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Arguing that the copyright law in the United States intended to protect creative works while allowing access by the next creators is “broken”, hundreds of top artists, songwriters, managers and music associations are urging reforms to the law. Top performers like Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera joined the call.
Council Of Europe Internet Governance Strategy 2016-2019 Stresses Human Rights 01/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Council of Europe, the 47-member intergovernmental group based in Strasbourg, France, this week adopted an internet governance strategy for the next four years, putting particular emphasis on human rights and democracy online. The strategy includes a series of steps and actions.
USTR Annual Report On Trade Barriers Highlights IPR Rights And Wrongs 01/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today (30 March) issued its annual National Trade Estimate report pointing fingers at trading partners’ practices it sees as barriers to US trade. And the treatment of intellectual property in countries like India is high on the list. But the report also goes to lengths to praise progress in countries too.
US Tech Industry Associations Endorse TPP 31/03/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A number of internet and software industry in the United States have come out in support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiated by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) last year.
India, EU Leaders Touch On IPR, Innovation, ICTs, Pharmaceuticals 30/03/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The leaders of India and the European Council today in Brussels discussed a wide range of topics including intellectual property rights – including geographical indications – innovation, digital issues, and health and pharmaceuticals.
UN High-Level Panel: Ideas For Change To Global Health And IP System Proliferate 19/03/2016 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Public health advocates, academics, patients, governments and others this week presented further ideas to the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines on ways to break the longstanding pattern of expensive medical products around the world as a way to pay for research and development.