External Review Of WIPO Technical Assistance Stirs Debate 03/04/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization are quietly but heatedly discussing how to address an external review of WIPO technical assistance in the lead-up to the next Committee on Development and IP (CDIP) meeting, according to sources. And some are watchful that there not be an effort to bury the substantive and at-times critical review, even as WIPO has issued a lengthy response to it.
US Trade Barriers Report Signals Work Ahead 02/04/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The annual US list of barriers to trade in other countries was published today, with profiles of dozens of trading partners from very large to very small.
Second Annual US IP Enforcement Report Shows Extensive Efforts At Home And Abroad 02/04/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The second annual report of the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) Victoria Espinel paints a picture of the United States’ multifaceted and ever-expanding war on IP infringement, at home and abroad.
WHO / EU “Bad Medicine” Plans: Flaws, Coordination Gaps 02/04/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The latest World Health Organization / European Union plans to counter the trade in counterfeit and substandard medicines aim to ensure that medicines in the developing world are safe. As such, though both plans appropriately address quality issues, they fall short of adequate coordination and collaboration with each other, and also present substantial flaws, Daniele Dionisio writes.
European Parliament Rejects Referral Of ACTA To EU High Court 27/03/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Committee of International Trade of the European Parliament today voted against referring the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
New Chair For WTO GI Register Talks Seeks New Ideas 23/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With general instructions from the December ministerial to change tactics in negotiations, the new chair of World Trade Organization special sessions on creating a geographical indications register for wines and spirits is calling on members for ideas.
WHO Head Urges Global Support For Australia In Fight Against Tobacco 22/03/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan has issued a call for global support of Australia in defending its “plain packaging” tobacco law against an onslaught of legal challenges from the tobacco industry. The industry has cited trademark concerns as a top issue.
UK Parliament Group Conducts Post-Hargreaves Inquiry Into IP Policy 22/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The All-Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group in the United Kingdom is undertaking an inquiry into the government’s role in intellectual property (IP) promotion and protection, less than a year after the publication of an independent and comprehensive review on the UK’s IP system.
French IP Industry Experts Discuss IP Portfolios, Trademarks Online 21/03/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – Intellectual property assets and how they influence corporate value, plus trademarks in the digital world were discussed last week by intellectual property professionals gathered in Paris.
French IP Lawyers Prefer No Favours For Green Tech Patents; Welcome America Invents Act 20/03/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – A meeting of IP professionals held in Paris last week reaffirmed the importance of intellectual property and its protection to the private sector. Meanwhile, panellists at the event argued that green technologies should not benefit from a special regime. They also hailed the new America Invents Act as facilitating patent applications in the United States.