WIPO In Good Health, IP Demand Rising, New Technologies Coming To Fore, Says Director 24/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The yearly World Intellectual Property Organization General Assemblies opened today. WIPO Director General Francis Gurry in his opening report to the member states underlined the rising demand for intellectual property protection, which continues to offer a healthy financial situation for the fee-financed organisation, but called on delegates to look into the future and start discussing questions linked to the use of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence.
WIPO General Assemblies 2018: External Offices, Treaties, New African Collaborations 21/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members gather next week for their annual General Assemblies. Among the topics to be discussed is which countries will host new WIPO external offices in 2018-2019. Also on the agenda are the reports from various WIPO committees, with some raising the prospect of convening high-level final negotiations on international treaties next year. A number of side events and exhibitions are also scheduled, focusing on issues like health, women, and innovation.
Video: Hackers To The Rescue – Defining Good Hacking 19/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Noci, the fictional city attacked by malevolent hackers during ICON2018, was saved and the challenge was won by a Swiss team. What is a hacker, how do they define themselves? Two members of ICON, a young non-governmental organisation in Geneva, answered that question for Intellectual Property Watch, with the same affirmation: a hacker is first and foremost a curious mind. View the IP-Watch video interviews below.
Hackers For Good, Gathering Stakeholders To Find Answers To Cyberspace Challenges 18/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For a number of people, the word hacker means bad news. However, if some hackers have malevolent intentions, there are also hackers for good, and their skills were put to the challenge last week as they tried to save a fictitious city fallen into the hands of a group of cyber terrorists. The challenge was part of a two-day event organised by a young Geneva-based non-governmental organisation seeking to raise awareness about digital trust and bring accountability to cyberspace.
European Commission Moves On Adoption Of WIPO GI Treaty; Timeframe Uncertain 12/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Over two years after a group of World Intellectual Property Organization members adopted a treaty on the protection of geographical indications, the European Commission has recommended that the European Union join the treaty. The EU was one of the major proponents of the treaty. Separately, a geographical indications industry group is urging EU attention to be placed on the need for legal certainty after the exit of the United Kingdom from the EU.
Should The WIPO Director General Fly First Class? 11/09/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment There are often big issues at stake at the global center for international intellectual property policy in Geneva, but sometimes, the nearly 200 governments that direct the UN World Intellectual Property Organization have to ask themselves questions like, should the director general of WIPO get to fly around the world first-class? Turns out, the answers can vary, but for now, he can carry on.
Welcoming People In Fresh Roles In The IP Community 11/09/2018 by Adithi Koushik for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Looking at movements in the global IP community over the summer and heading into fall, many old faces among the government delegations in Geneva left for new posts, while a new set of faces is taking up residence. Meanwhile, people are on the move at international organisations and NGOs, and law firms continued to see high turnover.
WIPO Sale Of Madrid Union Real Estate In Geneva Comes Under Scrutiny 10/09/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The UN World Intellectual Property Organization’s 7 million Swiss franc sale early this year of a building providing revenue to the Madrid Union on trademarks is being looked at more carefully this week after being flagged by the WIPO external auditor. Meanwhile, WIPO members are considering a recommendation to raise fees on international trademark registration for the first time in 20 years.
WIPO Looks To Diversify Its Revenue Sources From High Dependence On PCT 10/09/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Program and Budget Committee (PBC), a key member-state body at the UN agency, today opened a week of work on a range of issues. Opening the meeting, WIPO Director General Francis Gurry highlighted the positive financial status of the organisation but cautioned that external factors could make it risky to continue its heavy dependence on the popular Patent Cooperation Treaty.
WIPO Program And Budget Committee Meeting Topics: New Projects, Reform, Rise In Expenses 07/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Program and Budget Committee, one of the main governing bodies of the organisation, will meet next week to finalize a range of issues on the functioning and work of the UN agency for the year. If WIPO has an insolently good financial status for a United Nations organisation, auditors still made a number of recommendations including on the trademark system managed by WIPO, the rental of space to third parties, the recording of works of art in the building, and late travel authorisations.