Spain, Italy File Opposition To EU Unitary Patent 07/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The governments of Spain and Italy have filed complaints with the European Court of Justice calling for the annullment of a March European Council decision to create an EU unitary patent.
UNAIDS Praises India’s Vow Not To Negotiate Away Generics 06/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today praised the commitment made by India’s Commerce Minister not to negotiate stronger intellectual property rights provisions that could undermine India’s global leadership in the production of affordable generic AIDS drugs.
WHO Expert Group Sifts Ideas For A New Global Drug R&D Mechanism 05/07/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A diverse team of global experts on public health research and development will meet this week behind closed doors to analyse proposals for ways to fund R&D on diseases afflicting poor populations – and for who should coordinate such global efforts.
WIPO Panel Weighs Role Of Internet Intermediaries In Online Copyright Infringement 01/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The role and responsibility of internet intermediaries in the protection of copyright is under debate in several policy fora and often brings up issues such as privacy, access to knowledge, and freedom of expression. A panel was organised last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization to explore the viewpoints of several but not all stakeholders on this issue.
OECD Faces Concerns Over Its Internet Policy Principles 28/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A high-level meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is expected to pass a set of “principles on internet policymaking” tomorrow. But over 80 non-governmental groups have announced they will not sign on to the communiqué.
WIPO Seminar: IP Is Spearhead Of Agricultural Innovation, Solution To Food Shortage 28/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization recently stepped into the agriculture field with its first seminar on the use of intellectual property to increase productivity. In the seminar, proponents of IP rights defended the value of protection and the necessity of relying on technology to answer the needs of an inflated world population.
Amending Canada’s Access To Medicines Regime (CAMR): The New Fate Of Bill C-393 28/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments A Canadian bill to improve global access to medicines might get another shot in the new Parliament, writes Daniele Dionisio.
New FAO Chief Accepts GMOs, Not Seed Monopolies 27/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The newly elected head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization today expressed tolerance for genetically modified crops but not for monopolies on seeds.
WIPO Committee Sees Breakthrough On Audiovisual Treaty After 11-Year Delay 24/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments An international treaty on the protection of audiovisual performances might be back on track after a hiatus of over 10 years, as World Intellectual Property Organization delegates today reached an agreement on a text and will propose to the WIPO General Assembly to convene a high-level negotiation. A major step was also taken in the direction of a possible treaty on copyright limitations and exceptions for blind and visually impaired people, according to all sides, although some countries are still in favour of a softer instrument.
Special Report: A Quick Summary Of The New US Supreme Court Decisions On Patents 24/06/2011 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For the past ten years, the United States Supreme Court has steadily chipped away at patent rights. But this term, the court abruptly reversed direction. In two weeks, the high court issued rulings in three patent cases, and in every one upheld the legal rights of inventors. It is unclear, however, how big a win this really was for patent rights.