Protection Of Broadcasting Organisations On Firmer Ground At WIPO 18/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization member countries worked this week to find a common understanding of the functions of a potential new treaty protecting broadcasting organisations. Over two days, they tackled definitions, beneficiaries and scope of the new instrument with some success. One of the issues related to whether or not the treaty should cover transmission over the internet, and new proposals arose during the week.
Developing Countries Lack Capacity To Take Advantage Of Marrakesh Treaty 18/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The 2013 Marrakesh Treaty has been applauded by beneficiaries throughout the world for answering the need for wider access to special format works for visually impaired people. However, the path to its implementation, even after it is ratified by enough countries, appears to be strewn with difficulties in developing countries, which will need capacity-building, according to a speaker at a discussion panel organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
After Beijing And Marrakesh, WIPO Copyright Committee Feels The Pressure 17/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Expectations are high this week on the outcome of discussions of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on copyright. On the agenda is a potential new treaty protecting broadcasting organisations, and limitations and exceptions to copyright for libraries, archives, and education. In the mix is a new proposal by Japan to include computer networks in protected broadcasts.
TTIP Leak Illustrates Depth Of “Enhanced Regulatory Cooperation” As NGOs Sound Off 16/12/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments In time for the start of the third round of trade negotiations between the United States and European Union, EU transparency organisation Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) published the first interesting leak on the substance of the talks.
KIPO, SIPO Sign Cooperation Agreement Including IP Transactions 16/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The intellectual property offices of Korea and China today announced they have signed a cooperation agreement on work-sharing, communication, and new areas of IP, including the commercial use of IP rights such as transactions involving patents.
Argentina Passes Open Access Act For Publicly Funded Research 16/12/2013 by Maximiliano Marzetti for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The Congress of Argentina recently passed a landmark law making publicly funded science and technology research publications free and open access.
Brazil Takes Steps Aimed At More Balanced IP Rights 13/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments As of today, the Brazilian Patent Office has a new president: Otávio Brandelli, according to an official announcement. Also today, the nation’s new amendment on collective management went into effect.
WIPO Assembly: Potential Design Treaty Misses Train To Russia In June, Still On Track For 2014 13/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments It took World Intellectual Property Organization members long hours in informal consultations over the past two days and far into last night to try solving two outstanding issues in the extraordinary session of the organisation’s General Assembly. Yet another extraordinary session is on the way in May to try to agree on the convening of a diplomatic conference – a high level treaty negotiation – on industrial designs later in 2014.
Future Scenarios, IP Tax Evasion, Informal Sector, And Patents In Africa 13/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – A conference here on intellectual property, innovation and the public interest included a look at different possible futures for Africa, global IP tax evasion schemes, a discussion of the strong informal sector, and some views on the relative weakness of patent quality on the continent.
WIPO Members Progress, But New Offices, Design Treaty Still Unresolved 12/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After adopting the 2014-2015 program and budget yesterday, World Intellectual Property Organization member countries yesterday agreed on some pending issues but so far have not got agreement on principles for future WIPO offices worldwide nor a commitment to finish a treaty on the international registration of industrial designs.