EPO Sees Record Patent Filings, Grants 18/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Patent Office has announced that it reached new records in 2012 for patent filings and patents granted, according to preliminary figures. The United States remained at top, but growth was fastest in Asia, while European filings remained stable, it said.
US Senate Judiciary Committee 2013 Agenda Includes Privacy, Press Freedom 17/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Senate Judiciary Committee in 2013 will address topical issues of gun violence and immigration, but will also take up issues of citizens’ civil liberties in light of ever-increasing security measures, and a push for government transparency, freedom of the press, digital rights, access to books for the visually impaired, and incentives for innovation.
Company Takes A Fair Shot At Facebook, LinkedIn, With Social Networking Patents 15/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A Virginia-based company in the midst of a multi-million dollar merger is asserting patents on fundamental aspects of social networking it says have been infringed by Facebook, LinkedIn and three other companies. But even if the patents have validity, they come at a time of what may be a backlash against such lawsuits.
UNITAID Wins Rights To Internet Domain Names 11/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Unitaid, the drug purchasing facility affiliated with the UN World Health Organization, has won the rights to a series of internet domain names using its name, including unitaid.org. A World Intellectual Property Organization dispute panel found the names had been registered by a private party with the apparent intent of demanding a significant payment from the well-funded Unitaid.
US Issues Statement On Injunctions In Cases Of Standards Essential Patents 09/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office and US Department of Justice yesterday issued a joint policy statement on standards essential patents that encourages voluntary technology licensing on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, and discourages injunctions or exclusionary orders that block infringing products from the market. Their advice to the International Trade Commission cites innovation, competition, consumers and the public interest.
IP-Watch Looks At The Year Ahead In International IP Policy 09/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment What will 2013 bring for international intellectual property and innovation policy? In the coming Intellectual Property Watch series for subscribers, our expert writers take a look at the top global policy issues and events in copyright, public health, legal battles, food security/biotech/biodiversity, trade, development, internet governance and more.
Most-Read IP-Watch Stories Of 2012: India Pharma, Europe, ACTA, WIPO Technical Assistance, Gene Patents 30/12/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As 2012 becomes a memory, it is fair to say that the intellectual property rights discussion shifted over the past year, with trade agreements, over-reaching in copyright and patents, and the provision of technical assistance all falling under increased pressure. At least if the most-read Intellectual Property Watch stories of the year are any indication.
US Chamber Holds Annual IP Attaché Roundtable, Announces New “IP Index” 17/12/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Washington, DC – The United States Chamber of Commerce last week held its annual roundtable with US government IP attachés stationed around the world. At the same event, it released a consultant study that rated the IP rights usage of 11 rather different countries.
US IP Officials Blast NGOs In Geneva 16/12/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments Washington, DC – United States attachés stationed around the world in order to promote intellectual property rights reported on their activities to US industry here last week. And the attachès posted in Geneva had strong words for the work of non-governmental organisations operating at the World Trade Organization and the United Nations agencies.
Chair Of Stalled WTO Talks On GIs May Take Another Tack 07/12/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Trade Organization negotiations to establish a multilateral register of geographical indications continue to be stalled over whether talks should apply only to wines and spirits as mandated, or can extend to other products and include talks on disclosure of origin in genetic material, the negotiations chair reported to the WTO Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) today. He suggested a slightly different approach in the coming year.