WIPO Budget For 2018-2019, New External Offices, Under Discussion This Week 11/09/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Program and Budget Committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization this week is meeting for the second time this year. It is expected to consider the budget for the 2018/2019 biennium before the annual WIPO General Assembly next month. Delegates flew through the agenda today and had little to remark on audit and oversight reports, but the next days might give way to more discussions, in particular on the diplomatically thorny issue of which countries should host a WIPO external office. On a separate issue, the United States tabled a paper presenting an alternative methodology for allocating funds to WIPO-managed systems, reducing revenue reliance on a single global patent agreement.
New Study Looks At IP And The Rise Of Mega-Regional Agreements 11/09/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A substantive new study with contributions from a range of leading thinkers in the field of intellectual property rights delves into the history and future of mega-regional trade agreements and the evolution of IP rights.
Industry Launches Transnational Alliance Against Illicit Trade 08/09/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An international industry alliance against illicit trade in a broad range of sectors was launched this week, aimed at reducing “staggering losses” by targeting supply chains, including transportation, digital channels, free trade zones and financial networks.
European Libraries’ Five Principles For Open Access Negotiations With Publishers 07/09/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European research libraries have issued five principles for libraries to use when holding open access negotiations with publishers, seeking to prevent over-charging and promote transparency and sustainable access.
Comings And Goings In The International IP Community Year To Date 06/09/2017 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Heading into the final stretch of the year, it is a good time to catch up on all of the staff changes that have occurred in governments, industry, law firms and nongovernmental organisations related to the IP community in Geneva. Here is a rundown of some of top moves made by people since the start of the year.
NAFTA Second Round Ends With Unspecified “Important” Progress, Single Consolidated Text 06/09/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Ministers from Mexico, Canada and the United States concluded the second weeklong round of negotiations for an updated North American Free Trade Agreement in the past four weeks, and claimed progress on “important” issues and the shaping of a text with some 24 chapters. But the government officials offered no specifics to the public.
Key IP Delegates In Geneva – Fully Updated! 01/09/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Geneva, Switzerland is the gathering point for the world’s governments to set international policy and practices relating to intellectual property rights, as they cut across many of the public policy issues of the day (eg innovation, trade, internet, health, food), including at the World Intellectual Property Organization, World Trade Organization and World Health Organization. Everyone has a stake in what governments and their stakeholders do in these venues. But who do you talk to in order to get your message through? Now Intellectual Property Watch has fully updated its unique list of the diplomats representing many of the key nations in those institutions in Geneva. Available here for subscribers only!
Between Human Rights And IP: An Interview With Laurence Helfer, Co-Author Of Guide To Marrakesh Treaty Implementation 31/08/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment When in 2013, in Marrakesh, Morocco, a new World Intellectual Property Organization treaty establishing exceptions and limitations for people with visual impairment was adopted, it was hailed by some as a miracle. Entered into force in 2016, the way states implement the treaty is of major importance for the World Blind Union (WBU) so that the treaty serves its purpose to expand access to books for visually impaired people. Laurence Helfer is co-author of a Guide: The World Blind Union Guide to the Marrakesh Treaty: Facilitating Access to Books for Print-Disabled Individuals. Alongside the recent session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, he sat down with Intellectual Property Watch Senior Writer Catherine Saez to explain the main aims and messages of the Guide.
New Guide Shows How Best To Implement Marrakesh Treaty So Books Are Accessible To Visually Impaired 31/08/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Blind Union (WBU) has recently issued a guide to the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty providing copyright exceptions for visually impaired people. If the treaty was hailed by all, the way it is implemented could be a gamechanger, and the WBU provides advice to all stakeholders, and in particular governments, so that the treaty is interpreted and implemented to the best interest of the visually impaired. The union also warns against the implementation of two optional provisions, which they say could run counter to the aims of the treaty.
Law Enforcement, Industry Hold Event Against IP Crime At UN 29/08/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK – An event of international law enforcement, security experts and industry this week at the United Nations headquarters in New York aimed at building strategies against a wide range of intellectual property crime worldwide. At the event, a senior United States official discussed plans to expand a program of US IP experts abroad.