Interview – New CISAC Director Speaks On Expectations, Vision For The Future 08/10/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Paris-based International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CISAC) represents 230 collective management organisations in 120 countries, collecting fees on behalf of “creators.” In the past year, CISAC has become active advocating the case of creators at the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). CISAC organised a side event to the annual WIPO General Assembly in September (IPW, WIPO, 29 September 2014). Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez sat down with new CISAC Director General Gadi Oron after the side event, to ask him about his vision for the organisation.
Formal IP System Does Not Fit Africa, LDCs Need Technological Capacity, Speakers Say 07/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On the last day of the World Trade Organization Public Forum, a panel discussed the relationship between intellectual property and innovation in Africa, in particular in the informal sector. The formal IP system does not seems to fit, and least-developed countries need a sound technological base to be able to use the IP system. Separately, a European Patent Office study shows that Africa has a vast yet untapped potential in renewable energy.
Global Value Chains In Africa: Set Of Preconditions Needed To Be Profitable, Panel Says 06/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At the World Trade Organization Public Forum last week, a panel explored opportunities for Africa in global and regional value chains. A certain level of development needs to be achieved so that countries can benefit from global value chains, speakers said.
Inauspicious Start To Gurry’s Second Term As IP Policymaking Hits Wall At WIPO 01/10/2014 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments To hear some delegates’ late night closing statements at the General Assembly last night, developing country goals at the World Intellectual Property Organization died this week, as key issues met roadblocks in every direction. But all member states claimed to be shaken by the crash of WIPO’s normative agenda this week, putting the model for negotiating at the UN agency into question.
Sports Broadcasters Make Case For International IP Rights Protection 30/09/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On the side of the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly last week, sports and entertainment broadcasters held an event to highlight the challenges they are facing in the digital world, in particular unauthorised retransmission of live events.
Lisbon Agreement Members To Move Ahead With Treaty Talks Despite Resistance 29/09/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The revision of a World Intellectual Property Organization agreement to include geographical indications, raising their status, was challenged in vain by some countries in the past week. In addition, this week’s WIPO General Assembly has been working intensively on a range of other issues.
Creators Push For Fair Remuneration At WIPO General Assembly 29/09/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Creative artists came to this week’s World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly to encourage governments to build a sustainable future for creators and ensure fair remuneration for their work. This may mean looking for ways to redistribute the value of content.
Countries Begin Push To Reduce Differences In Patent Laws 26/09/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Some of the leading patent-filing nations this week renewed an effort to harmonise procedures for filing patents in their national offices. Image Credits: Eric Bridiers, US Mission
Strengthening WIPO’s Governance For The Next 50 Years: A Time For Action 26/09/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In 2017, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will mark its 50th anniversary. In the lead up to that milestone, the next three years provide a vital opportunity for Member States to update and strengthen WIPO’s governance, both to address current problems and to better equip the organisation for addressing challenges that may arise in the next 50 years, writes Carolyn Deere Birkbeck.
Tobacco Plain Packaging Gains Ground As France Introduces Draft Bill 25/09/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment French Minister for Social Affairs, Health and Rights of Women Marisol Touraine today announced a national programme to reduce tobacco use in France, including plain packaging.