Groups Call On Congress To Step Back From SOPA-Style Legislation 07/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Some 70 groups from across the social and political spectrum have sent a letter to the US Senate and House of Representatives calling for them to step back from any anti-piracy legislation until more consideration can be given of the effect on the internet.
WIPO: ISP-Trademark Meeting Agreed; Industrial Design Treaty, Country Names Still On Table 04/02/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week resumed an adjourned October meeting and agreed to continue exploring the possibility of a treaty on industrial design by commissioning an impact study on the costs and effects of such a treaty. They also found consensus on the modalities of an information meeting on the role and responsibility of internet intermediaries in the context of trademarks, and decided to explore further the question of the protection of country names.
Tell WIPO What You Think! 03/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has launched a survey of stakeholder perceptions and expectations of the UN agency.
Discussion Of Treaty On Industrial Designs, Role Of ISPs Resumed At WIPO 01/02/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After being adjourned in November in the mists of a fire at the World Intellectual Property Organization, a meeting on trademarks and industrial designs resumed today in icy Geneva.
New Internet Domain Process Off To Smooth Start, ICANN Says 31/01/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The initial application period for the expansion of new generic top-level domains on the internet is going well after the first couple of weeks, but it is too soon to put the armoury of intellectual property protections to the test, the head of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) said today.
Geographical Indications Register Gains Ground Outside WTO 30/01/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A private sector-led effort to compile a global register of geographical indications is gaining support, topped by a sizeable donation from the Italian government. The effort is being undertaken outside the World Trade Organization in spite of an agreed – but long stalled – mandate at WTO to create a register.
“Politics Of Intellectual Property” Looks At The National Level 30/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A much-referenced book now out in paperback remains one of the few books with a broad social sciences perspective on current conflicts over intellectual property policy, with a focus on the national level set within the context of shifting global patterns.
WHO Board Plan For Fake Medicines Mechanism Excludes Trade And IP 28/01/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization Executive Board this week agreed to propose to the May World Health Assembly the establishment of a mechanism for international collaboration on counterfeit and substandard medical products, but with the exclusion of trade and intellectual property issues.
Most EU Members Sign ACTA; SOPA-Style Protests Building 27/01/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment While most of the 27 member states of the European Union signed the much-debated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) yesterday in Tokyo, joining the United States, Japan and other ACTA partners, hackers brought down the website of the European Parliament, and a key official stepped down. This may be only the beginning of the protests and petitioning.
Officials, Industry Discuss IPR In Relation To Economy And Society 26/01/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Two top international organisations in Geneva are working to adapt to trends in global intellectual property systems with an eye toward contributing to a positive economic impact, officials told a private sector conference this week. But they heard a complex message about the role of IP in addressing public policy concerns.