South Africa To Launch National Traditional Knowledge Recording System 10/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments While diplomats are trying to find consensus on an international instrument to protect traditional knowledge at the World Intellectual Property Organization, some countries are establishing systems to protect their traditional knowledge domestically. South Africa will be launching on 24 May its National Recordal System to catalogue its indigenous knowledge.
LDC Request For Waiver Of IP Obligations Meets Conditions From Developed Countries 09/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The request by least developed countries (LDCs) to push back the date on which they would have to enforce intellectual property rules under the World Trade Organization is the subject of informal consultations between delegations, as the deadline is fast approaching. Particularly at stake is the time period of the extension, which developed countries would prefer to be limited. Meanwhile, well over 100 academics have voiced support for the LDCs’ request.
Experts Review UNEP Report On Green Economy And Trade 09/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a new report focused on the issue of green economies and international trade. The report examines six sectors – agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, forestry, manufacturing, renewable energy and tourism – that are of particular interest to developing countries.
US Senate Committee Evaluates US Cyber Threat Response Efforts 08/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Advanced cyber espionage tools are readily available for use by foreign governments and organised criminal groups to coordinate cyber attacks on US computer networks, a United States law enforcement official said today in a prepared statement to a congressional panel.
WTO Announces Next Step For Azevedo To Become New Director 08/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization today announced that the three facilitators charged with consulting WTO members have recommended Brazilian Amb. Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo become its next director general.
IPRs And The WTO’s New Brazilian President: Heading South, Hopefully Up 08/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Benny Spiewak writes on the intellectual property system and a Brazilian as head of the WTO. How an emerging economy national may affect the rules of the game.
Common Market For Eastern And Southern Africa (COMESA) Drafts IP Policy 07/05/2013 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Cape Town, South Africa – The draft intellectual property policy of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has put IP rights at the centre of the region’s competitive growth strategy.
Infojustice.org: US, EU Demand TRIPS-Plus Concessions From Poorest Countries 06/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Sangeeta Shashikant writes: “Developed countries, particularly the United States and the European Union, have offered a poor and impractical deal of an incredibly short extension of 5 years with restrictive conditions to least developed countries that are entitled to be exempted from implementing the WTO TRIPS Agreement. Particularly problematic is their demand that the LDCs agree to a ‘no-roll-back’ clause, a TRIPS plus condition that will prevent LDCs from rolling back (i.e. providing a reduced degree of IP protection) their current laws, even if they adversely impact their development concerns.”
Shippers Becoming Anti-Counterfeiting Target; Europe Takes Other Measures 03/05/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Istanbul – Counterfeiters are using legitimate supply chains, and shipping companies are unknowingly allowing it and need to take steps to crack down, rights holders’ representatives said at a recent anti-counterfeiting conference. Meanwhile, Europe is undertaking a study of the benefits of IP-intensive industries, and new customs and protection measures.
ASEAN Launches Portal To Facilitate IP Awareness 02/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has launched an intellectual property portal to serve as a hub for ASEAN on IP-related issues.