Palestinian Membership In UNESCO Could Raise Questions For US At WIPO 21/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Members of the Paris-based United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) are preparing to vote to allow Palestine to become a member, according to sources. If this happens, it could create uncertainty about United States membership in UN agencies, including the World Intellectual Property Organization.
How To Respond To A Cease & Desist Letter 21/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments US companies are generally known to be much more litigious than non-US companies. Thus, if you are a non-US company looking to enter the US market, it is prudent to understand the nuances of responding to a cease and desist letter. While cease and desist letters can be upsetting and sometimes confusing, there are a series of steps that companies can take to be better prepared in the event that they do receive one.
UPOV Sprouts A New Public Face – As Farmers Protest 20/10/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is trying to dispel its image as a non-transparent organisation and is working on a new user-friendly website with public access to a number of formerly reserved documents. Meanwhile, for the first time farmers protested outside the UPOV building in Geneva, as they seek to preserve the ancient practice of saving seeds from their harvests to use the next year.
UPOV Marks 50 Years; Breeders Seek More Enforcement, Civil Society Wants In 20/10/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This week the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Union is often criticised by civil society as being opaque, but plant breeders seem reasonably content with the latest version of the convention. However, some breeders that do not rely on seeds to reproduce their plants are seeking a clarification in the convention to prevent illegal use of their protected varieties.
Copyright Infrastructure In The Digital Age: Raising Awareness At WIPO 19/10/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A global meeting entitled “Enabling Creativity in the Digital Environment: Copyright Documentation and Infrastructure” was held at the World Intellectual Property Organization 13-14 October. Gathering representatives of governments, business leaders, academics, and other stakeholders, the conference was organised in the framework of the Development Agenda Thematic Project on Intellectual Property and the Public Domain.
WIPO To Launch New Drug R&D Database For Neglected Disease Licences 19/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization, in conjunction with the World Health Organization, private sector and foundation partners, is preparing to launch a new voluntary database for the sharing of intellectual property for research and development on medicines, vaccines and diagnostics for neglected diseases, according to sources in Geneva.
EU High Court Bans Patents On Human Embryo Stem Cells For Commerce 18/10/2011 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Union high court today outlawed the patenting of human embryo stem cells for scientific research or commercial purposes. The decision has forced European courts to examine the “ethical boundaries of patenting,” said Greenpeace, which challenged a German patent in the case. While there are alternate methods for obtaining stem cells, the ruling will nevertheless affect some research, one patent lawyer said.
WTO Trains Officials On TRIPS Flexibilities For Public Health 18/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Trade Organization today concluded a four-day training session to help officials from developing countries better understand the flexibilities to intellectual property rights built into international trade rules on IP.
To Stem Infringement, Block Money – Not Information 18/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Protect IP Act, currently pending in the United States Senate, contains a range of steps designed to support the holders of American copyrights and trademarks by fighting a specific part of the online infringement problem: “rogue” websites whose primary or intended use is the infringement of US copyrights or trademarks. The bill would take promising new steps to diminish the financial rewards of IPR infringement – but it is saddled with ill-advised information blocking provisions that should, and probably will, be prevented from passing the Senate in its current form, writes David Robinson.
WIPO Members Embark On Busy Year Of IP Policymaking 17/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members this month approved a range of reports from WIPO negotiating committees and took note of changes within the UN agency. Now with the annual WIPO General Assemblies over, work has begun on a hefty policymaking work programme this autumn. Here’s a rundown of what’s coming.