A Principle Of Balance: Top Official Explains India’s IP Policy 07/09/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Adopted in May, the first Indian intellectual property policy brought some concerns that the focus on IP rights might dampen India’s willingness to use the IP flexibilities to safeguard national policy space. It was also perceived by some as giving in to pressure from the foreign pharmaceutical industry for India to strengthen patent protection. However, a high level Indian official in an interview this week said the policy caters to Indian development needs and India is aware of its pioneering role in certain sectors like access to medicines. Rajiv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary at the Indian Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion Ministry of Commerce & Industry sat down with Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez to describe how India’s IP policy came into being, to what aim, what it is expected to change in the Indian IP landscape, and how Indian is standing fast to its principle of balance.
UNITAID Issues Call For Solutions To Overcome IP Barriers 06/09/2016 by Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments UNITAID, the drug financing mechanism, has put out an appeal calling for ideas on solutions to overcome intellectual property barriers that may be preventing progress in public health. The deadline for submissions is coming near.
IP Offices Focus On Educating Younger Population About IP Protection 06/09/2016 by Catherine Saez and Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property rights awareness campaigns are increasingly targeting the younger population, as early as primary school, according to several country presentations at the World Intellectual Property Organization enforcement committee this week. WIPO is also developing an Education Took Kit for teachers of children aged 5 to 18. However for some countries, this education should encompass a broader view on IP than only enforcing rights.
Blockchain Technology Raises Challenging IP Issues, Say Speakers 05/09/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Blockchains, such as the well-known bitcoin, are not yet well-defined but are creating a lot of hype, speakers at a 23 August Intellectual Property Owners’ Association webinar said. Two things are clear so far, they said: the technology is in its infancy, and there are lots of unresolved questions about what is patentable and how IP laws intersect with the mostly open source software used in the systems.
Committee Recommends ‘High Priority’ Changes To WIPO Oversight Charter 02/09/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Program and Budget Committee (PBC) this week agreed to recommend changes to the UN agency’s Internal Oversight Charter as a high priority by next month, including to strengthen investigatory processes against senior officials, and access to confidential documents by member states. In a separate issue, after days of intensive talks behind closed doors, the committee could not agree on which countries will get new WIPO external offices. [Update: decision document added]
WHO Experts Seek To Have Its Flu Framework Recognised Under Nagoya Protocol 02/09/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Will an international instrument protecting genetic resources get in the way of the world’s preparedness to fend off the next influenza pandemic? This is one of the questions left open for a group of experts reviewing the World Health Organization Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework. Meanwhile, one stakeholder is claiming to have been denied full and fair participation.
Industry Proposals Contrary To Spirit Of Marrakesh Treaty, Libraries Say 02/09/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments An international group of librarians has warned that rights holder organisations in some countries are promoting provisions that restrict and impede the access envisaged by the Marrakesh Treaty providing exceptions to copyrighted works for visually impaired persons.
US Industry Warns Of Restrictive Policies In ICTs, Including On IP Rights 02/09/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment “Serious concerns” have been raised by the United States Chamber of Commerce that policy measures increasingly restrict investment in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, following its comprehensive examination of ICT laws and policies around the world. Intellectual property rights are among the areas the Chamber says are being targeted.
Industry’s Proposed Changes To Draft TPP Were Not Protected Under National Security Exemption, US Judge Says 01/09/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Changes to the draft text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) suggested during negotiation of the treaty are not protected under the national security clause of the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), a judge ruled yesterday in a rare rejection. But he also defended USTR’s protection of information on the basis that other countries in TPP might accuse the US of “steamrolling” them if US textual proposals from the negotiations were revealed.
Access And Benefit Sharing Mentioned In US Patent For Natural Dye, Might Be A First 01/09/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A recent patent granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to a Colombian company stated where the genetic resource of the invention was taken from and described the access and benefit-sharing agreement made with indigenous communities. This might be the first time that such a statement appears in a US patent, according to a source.