Biodiversity Negotiators Seek To Finalise Draft Access, Benefit-Sharing Regime 22/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Delegates to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity today begin the last formal meeting before a late-2010 deadline to negotiate an agreement ensuring fair and equitable access to and benefits from the world’s scarce biological resources.
EU To Request Publication Of ACTA Documents To Stop “Rumours”; Civil Society Meeting Planned 22/03/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Europe will request the publication of the current drafts for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) at the next ACTA negotiating meeting in New Zealand in April, EU trade official Luc Devigne said today. Speaking at the third EU stakeholder meeting on the hotly debated ACTA today in Brussels, Devigne also said there is also a meeting with civil society planned to take place alongside the New Zealand round.
China Tells WTO: Obligations Fulfilled On IP Dispute Case 22/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment China on Friday briefed the World Trade Organization on improvements in its intellectual property rights enforcement needed to bring it into compliance with a dispute settlement decision made last year.
Forest Group Decision Has Led To Great Rise In Patent Marking Lawsuits 22/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The recent Forest Group case decided by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) has made it more financially viable for plaintiffs to sue for under the false marking patent statute (35 U.S.C. § 292). However, legislation currently before Congress, as well as another patent marking case to be decided by the CAFC in the near future, Pequignot v. Solo Cup, may level the playing field more towards defendants in such lawsuits.
Influential EU Industry Group Urges Stronger IP Focus In Trade Relations 18/03/2010 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Greater emphasis should be placed on intellectual property issues in the European Union’s trade relations with developing countries, a leading employers group has recommended.
The US-Cotton Case — The Truth Behind Brazil’s Cross-Retaliation Against US Intellectual Property 18/03/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments In a recent speech at the Export-Import Bank’s annual conference, US President Obama said the US Trade Representative will use its “full arsenal” to combat “practices that blatantly harm” US businesses, and that includes “enforcing existing [US] agreements.” The question is: will the US comply with its multilateral obligations under the WTO agreement in the US-Brazil cotton case, says Brazilian academic Pedro Paranaguá.
Public Health Policy In 2010: Research Funding And Regulations 17/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Finding ways to fund research and regulating medication is critical to international public health policy and intellectual property rights specialists in 2010.
Indian Civil Society Raises Concerns Over US Industry-Sponsored IP Summits 11/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Public interest groups in India are raising questions over annual summits involving Indian judges and policymakers that are being funded by major western industry groups, in particular pharmaceutical companies. At this year’s summit, held recently, a section of India’s patent law which prevents the extension of monopoly power for incremental innovations came under attack, the groups have said.
New US Senate Patent Reform Bill Brings Many Reactions 11/03/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Reactions have emerged since last week’s release by United States Senate Judiciary Committee bipartisan leaders of details of compromise legislation to reform of US patent laws. Most are generally positive, signalling that a long-sought compromise might be near, but strong reservations remain among some stakeholders.
US On International Trade Crusade With New Agenda 11/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The recently released US annual trade agenda shows an intention to conquer new international markets, strengthen the global trade system and enforce obligations and US intellectual property rights. The US also means to address what they consider as trade barriers. [Update: President Obama spoke on the trade agenda today, more below.]