Kappos’ Early Days At USPTO: Many Changes, Few Funds 23/10/2009 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Reform of the United States patent system, better patent quality and greater international cooperation among patent offices are just a few of the jobs new United States Patent and Trademark Office chief David Kappos has on his plate.
Perpetual Protection Of Traditional Knowledge “Not On Table” At WIPO 22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Protection of traditional knowledge under intellectual property rights may have a time limit, though determining duration of protection measures will be more difficult than it is with Western scientific innovation, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry said yesterday.
Disagreements Remain In WHO Talks On Virus-Sharing After Chan Proposal 22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization members this week offered views on the global system for virus- and benefit-sharing for pandemic influenza following recently proposed solutions by Director General Margaret Chan aimed at changing the current, ad-hoc model to a more predictable, sustainably-funded system.
Advocates Warn Against ‘Monsantosizing’ Of Global Food Sources 21/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food prepares to present his report today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a global appeal is being filed by farmers and environmental organisations against patents on plants and animals derived from conventional breeding.
Spurring Local Innovation In Africa By Improving Access To Information 19/10/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment Greater awareness of the existence of open access information resources for innovation and making the information easily accessible and relevant to developing country users could help spur innovation in these countries, according to top technical assistance providers and local innovators.
Panel Calls For An Ethical Framework For IP And Climate Change 16/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments BANGKOK – Normal negotiation strategy is unlikely to result in an impact on climate change, since the most important stakeholders in fighting it – not yet born – have no seat at the negotiating tables, said a panel last week in Bangkok. An ethical approach is a better way to achieve results, speakers said, and an ethical take on intellectual property rights and alternative forms of innovation may have a place in new climate-friendly economic models.
How The “Machine-Or-Transformation” Test In Bilski Is Failing 16/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments Charles Macedo and Norajean McCaffrey write that in the upcoming Supreme Court case on the Bilksi “machine-or-transformation” test, the Federal Circuit departed from Supreme Court precedent, and they suggest how to put the law of patent-eligible subject matter back on track.
European Union Prepares A New Intellectual Property Rights Strategy 15/10/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments Intellectual property rights and their protection will be high on the agenda of the European institutions in the upcoming legislature, representatives from the European Commission, European Council and the European Parliament said at the first European Innovation Summit in Brussels yesterday. Stronger IP rights (IPR) protection was declared by representatives of all three institutions as indispensable to promote innovation and the knowledge society, while only a few voices were raised asking not to overreach in IPR regulation.
Pour les experts, l’accès à des médicaments sûrs est une question de santé publique et non de propriété intellectuelle 15/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Selon les participants à un récent événement organisé par Open Society Institute, les initiatives de lutte contre la contrefaçon pourraient limiter l’accès aux traitements sans pour autant réduire le problème des médicaments contrefaits, en particulier dans les pays en développement.
WIPO Members Step Up To Implement Development Agenda 15/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organisation members are preparing to take the reins of the Development Agenda as it becomes clear that implementation success will depend on their actions. And their actions must not only be focused on specific projects such as patent databases but also on the broader spirit of the agenda for change at WIPO, key developing countries said.