WTO: LDCs To Press For Extension For TRIPS, Plain Packaging Back 26/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Least developed countries next week will ask that World Trade Organization members grant them another extension of the transition period to enforce intellectual property protection measures beyond the current date of 1 July 2013. In addition, the issues of plain packaging for tobacco products and innovation will be back on the agenda of the WTO intellectual property committee.
Web-Based IP Assessment Tool Gets Update From USPTO 25/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today released an updated version of their web-based intellectual property assessment tool, which aims to make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more aware of their IP assests.
WIPO Blind Treaty Text Shapes Up On Last Day; More Drafting In April 23/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A week of arduous negotiations and doubts at the World Intellectual Property Organization about progress on a text to become a treaty for the benefit of visually impaired people was concluded positively yesterday with a sigh of relief by most delegations, and observers. A new text was issued and even though most deemed that crucial issues were addressed, some are outstanding and delegates will meet again in April to continue their drafting efforts.
Google’s Anti-Piracy Measures Not Enough, Recording Industry Says 21/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) today in a report accused Google of not doing enough to stop Internet users from accessing websites repeatedly accused of copyright infringement.
WIPO Treaty For The Blind: Rightsholders Seek Safeguards, Civil Society Seeks Real Access 21/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments While country delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization are working to find consensus on a text to become a treaty for the benefit of blind and visually impaired people, industry and non-governmental organisations are pushing their agendas.
WIPO Negotiations: Latest Text Of Treaty For The Blind Is Short On Progress 21/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new version of a text to become a treaty facilitating access to books and information for blind and visually impaired people was issued this morning at the World Intellectual Property Organization amidst concerns that a lot of ground still needs to be covered before the end of the meeting.
Blind Treaty Discussions Could Wander, All Sides Ask For Focus 20/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Consensus remains elusive for World Intellectual Property Organization trying to prepare a text for final negotiations on an international instrument facilitating access to books and information to blind people, and some countries are growing concerned.
Closed Discussions At WIPO On Treaty For Blind, As New Text Emerges 19/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization working to clean the text of a potential treaty facilitating access to books for visually impaired people produced a new version this morning.
Indian Users’ Perspective On WIPO Negotiations On Treaty For Visually Impaired 16/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment South-East Asia is host to one-third of the world’s 39 million blind people. Over 20 million live in India alone. This week’s special session of the World Intellectual Property Organization aims to clean up the text of an international treaty to facilitate access to books for the blind and visually impaired community. It is thus of prime importance for India, and some there worry that issues such as commercial availability could undermine the treaty’s effectiveness.
Obama Takes Swipe At Patent Trolls In Call For Further Reform 15/02/2013 by Kelly Burke for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment President Obama took aim yesterday at so-called patent trolls and said that further US patent reform is needed. He also called for a continued focus on protection of IP rights, but signalled a need for balance with openness.