US Issues Spate Of Trade Announcements, With IP In The Foreground 22/08/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With much of the rest of the western world on holidays, the Office of the United States Trade Representative spent this month in meetings and issuing statements about improving international trade conditions for the US. Over the past two weeks, United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and other senior officials have been involved in activities with Canada and Mexico (under renegotiation of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, NAFTA), Japan, South Korea, and China.
India Grants Pfizer Patent On Pneumonia Vaccine, Stokes Fear Of Unaffordability 22/08/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment MUMBAI (Reuters) – India has granted Pfizer Inc a patent for its powerful pneumonia vaccine Prevenar 13, in a blow to some health groups that said this would put the treatment out of reach of thousands in poorer nations.
South Africa Government Completes IP Policy, Plans To Publish It This Month 08/08/2017 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment CAPE TOWN — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in South Africa has confirmed that the long-awaited national draft IP policy will be published in the Government Gazette this month. This comes after Cabinet approved the draft IP policy at its latest meeting last week.
Qatar WTO Complaint: Saudi, UAE, Bahrain Restrictions Violate IP Rights 04/08/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The government of Qatar has requested World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia over restrictions ranging from goods and services, to airspace, to intellectual property rights. In the filing, Qatar complains the countries are engaging in “coercive attempts at economic isolation.”
Report Shows Benefits Of US Investment In Global Health R&D 03/08/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report from a global health advocacy group in Washington, DC shows the importance to the United States of US government investment in global health research and development and argues that more investment would have a tremendous positive impact on lives worldwide, including in fighting neglected diseases.
New Book Puts WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee In Perspective 02/08/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new book with contributions from key thinkers on the subject details the long history and intensive negotiations of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore, making a case for conclusion of binding international agreements in these areas as a way to close gaps in intellectual property policy.
Troubled Federal Circuit Hobbles US Patent System 31/07/2017 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment It’s been another dismal term for the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Six of its patent law decisions were reviewed in the US Supreme Court’s 2016-17 term, and the Federal Circuit’s decisions were overturned in all six cases. That, unfortunately, is not surprising. Over the past 15 years, the tribunal once known as the nation’s “patent court” has seen many of its most important patent law decisions reversed by the Supreme Court– sometimes in withering opinions. This has seriously undermined the Federal Circuit’s power, reputation, jurisprudence, and (apparently) self-confidence – causing a major problem for the United States’ patent system.
Report From WHO Fair Pricing Meeting Shows Balanced Discussion 28/07/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A wide range of governments and stakeholders attended a closed meeting in the Netherlands in May to address the ongoing problem of pricing medicines to pay for research and the resulting lack of affordability of those medicines. The report from the World Health Organization-led meeting shows a range of points were made by participants and signals a move to change the global policy.
Information, Access, And Development: Setting A Course For The Sustainable Development Goals 28/07/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Gerald Leitner writes: Information is the raw material for decision-making. When individuals and groups make the right choices, based on good information, their chances of taking a full role in economic, social, cultural and civic life improve. They can better create and innovate, participate in politics, find and do their jobs well, and live healthily. Informed citizens and communities are also essential to the UN’s 2030 Agenda. We cannot have sustainable development when individuals are not able to deal with new choices and challenges autonomously, drawing on access to information. And we cannot have inclusive development, with no-one left behind, unless this access is real and meaningful for everyone. Libraries have long sought to do this, making sure that the world’s heritage is preserved and made accessible, allowing the sharing of knowledge between institutions and across borders, and giving children, families, students and others the chance to enjoy works which they could never afford to pay for individually.
Companies Prefer Trade Secrets To Patents To Protect Innovation, EUIPO Finds 27/07/2017 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment “Despite their economic importance, and in particular their role in protecting returns from innovation, trade secrets are poorly studied and their relationship with patents is often misinterpreted,” the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) said in a study published this month. It used a survey of around 200,000 companies in Europe’s manufacturing and service industries to determine what factors influenced their choice between patents and trade secrets, as well as their overall use of both mechanisms. The results could help policy-makers, the Office said. It also holds out opportunities for innovative lawyers and intellectual property firms, said one IP management consultant.