WIPO Patent Committee Agrees To Continue Discussions On All Issues 10/12/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization patent law committee ended its meeting this week with status quo on all issues, after lively deliberations and new proposals but with all discussions left for further debate in 2012.
Patent Reform Has USPTO’s Trial And Appeal Board At The ‘Centre Of A Storm’ 08/12/2011 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment WASHINGTON, DC – Officials and workers at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are working day and night, as well as weekends, to meet forthcoming deadlines outlined in the America Invents Act (AIA). And some legal experts warn that they are now experiencing the calm before the storm as those deadlines approach.
A Call At OHCHR For Policy Action On Right To Enjoy Benefits Of Scientific Progress 08/12/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The right of people to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress, the subject of an article in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, has received little attention and needs new attention in UN agencies, according to panellists yesterday at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Human rights need to enter the arena in fora where scientific progress and its application are being discussed, they said in a public consultation on the ideas.
WIPO Patent Law Committee Sets Sights On “Balance” Among Member Interests 06/12/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization patent law committee this week is discussing a range of issues with a UN-style sensitivity to all levels of development and patent ownership. Issues on the agenda range from patent quality, public health, exceptions and limitations, client-attorney confidentiality, and technology transfer.
America Invents Act Forges Ahead; Concerns Remain About First-To-File, Other Provisions 06/12/2011 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment WASHINGTON, DC – The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is charging full-steam ahead in implementing the American Invents Act (AIA), but some are warning that the trademark first-to-file provision and other elements may do more harm than good to the patent system.
Lines Of Global Enforcement Debate Surface At WIPO Meeting 05/12/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Leading debates surrounding global efforts to stop counterfeiting and piracy of intellectual property rights-protected goods and services came into full view at the recent meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization enforcement committee. In that debate, a long list of civil society groups has raised concern about WIPO enforcement activities.
Ways Forward Proposed For Tech Transfer & IP At Durban Climate Talks 04/12/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments As governments meet to look for ways to progress on halting global climate change, some are suggesting more discussion is needed on the sharing of the technologies that can fight that change, and a middle ground approach has been put forward to get them there.
Brussels IP Week: Key Debates, Opportunities In Global IP, Innovation 01/12/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A four-day conference in Brussels next week involving numerous high-level decision-makers in intellectual property policy and practice will bring out the latest thinking on IP rights as a boost to innovation in Europe and around the world. There will be a special focus on open innovation, IP in industry, IP strategies, and IP in the largest emerging economies.
WTO General Council Extends Deadline For TRIPS Health Amendment 01/12/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The first and only amendment to the 1994 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) was agreed with much aplomb at the Hong Kong ministerial in 2005. But getting countries to ratify the amendment has proven more difficult.
Philippines: IP Office Cannot Issue Injunctions On Counterfeit Claims 01/12/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Philippines Justice Secretary has issued an opinion that an agency cannot issue an injunction against an alleged counterfeiter as the complainant must be an actual party with an interest in the case.