US Senate Moves Toward Vote On Reform To Patent Regime 18/03/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Legislation for sweeping patent reform in the United States could see Senate floor action as soon as early April. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Democrat-Nevada, said the congressional body could consider S 1145 next month but the Senate Judiciary Committee has not been given a firm date, a committee […]
Conseil des ADPIC : la moitié des membres de l’OMC est en faveur de l’amendement sur la biodiversité 17/03/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Kaitlin Mara et William New La commission de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) sur les droits de propriété intellectuelle a conclu sa rencontre triennale avec un jour d’avance, au terme d’une réunion que plusieurs participants ont qualifiée de « routinière ». Cette réunion a été marquée par un soutien plus fort en faveur d’un amendement […]
Consejo de los ADPIC: la mitad de los miembros de la OMC apoya la enmienda sobre la biodiversidad 17/03/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Kaitlin Mara y William New El Comité sobre Derechos de Propiedad Intelectual de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) finalizó un día antes su reunión trienal que fue considerada “de rutina” por varios participantes. La reunión se caracterizó por un mayor apoyo a una enmienda de las normas de la OMC relativas a la […]
Brazil Wrestles With Decision On GM Corn, Seed Patenting 17/03/2008 by Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch RIO DE JANEIRO – After 10 years of debate, Brazil approved in February the commercialisation of two varieties of genetically modified corn, a highly contentious decision in the country that has become linked to concerns about seed patenting by multinational companies. Now, sale of GM corn in the […]
Tussle Over Participation In India Compulsory Licence Hearing 14/03/2008 by Tatum Anderson for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Tatum Anderson for Intellectual Property Watch Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche is expected to appear before the Indian Patent Office on 17 March to assert its right to attend a later meeting that could result in one of its drugs being copied, without its permission, by an Indian generic pharmaceutical company. The hearing is due […]
TRIPS Council: Half Of WTO Membership Backs Biodiversity Amendment 14/03/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara and William New The World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property rights concluded its triennial gathering one day early in a meeting several participants characterised as “routine.” The meeting was marked by further support for an amendment to WTO rules for biodiversity, a lack of enforcement issues, the welcome of Vietnam, and […]
Complaint Lodged Over EU Parliament’s Exclusive Use Of Microsoft Systems 06/03/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – A formal complaint has been lodged with the European Parliament over how its information technology systems rely almost exclusively on software manufactured by Microsoft. Advocates of open standard software, which is developed on a not-for-profit basis, allege that the Seattle-based giant enjoys an effective monopoly or […]
Indigenous Groups Express Concerns On IP Protection Of Their Knowledge 03/03/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments By Kaitlin Mara Representatives of global indigenous groups were in Geneva last week to exchange views on the role of intellectual property in the protection of indigenous and traditional knowledge and folklore. Indigenous groups participated an informal meeting held on 22-23 February, and in the weeklong meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization Intergovernmental Committee […]
Positive Outcome For WIPO Committee On TK, Folklore, Genetic Resources 29/02/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By William New The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge and other issues concluded a weeklong meeting with a compromise way forward that a range of government officials said was a positive outcome that maintains committee progress. “The meeting was a good one in the sense that we came forward with new ideas” […]
Free, Open Software Supporters Advocate Against Microsoft Document Standard 29/02/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Free software and open standards proponents met this week in Geneva to discuss the importance of standards-setting and to debate the role of patent protections and advocate freedom of information sharing in the digital economy. Organised by open source software advocacy group OpenForum Europe and happening against the backdrop of Microsoft’s bid […]