New EU Communication On Increased IP Enforcement 14/09/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The European Commission Trade Directorate today adopted a “communication on enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights” within the European Union internal market that aims at greater coordination but stops short of new legislative measures.
Will KSR‘s Effect On Small Molecule Patents Be Limited? 14/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Four recent Federal Circuit decisions suggest that small molecules are special and may be relatively unaffected by the US Supreme Court KSR decision, write Photon Rao and George Best.
Survey: US 19th In Global IP Protection 13/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The United States, often seen as toughest on other nations for their perceived failure to protect US intellectual property rights, was itself 19th [note: corrected from earlier version] in the world in such protection last year, according to the latest World Economic Forum survey on competitiveness. Some of those scoring higher have been criticised in […]
20,000 March In Berlin As Protests Erupt Against European Surveillance 12/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Over twenty thousand people today marched through the German capital of Berlin protesting against the rise of surveillance legislation in their country and the European Union in recent years. Under the motto “freedom not fear,” 167 organisations, including major trade unions, associations of lawyers, judges, journalists, doctors and civil rights activists, called on the German […]
IP, Technology And The Next Green Revolution For Africa 11/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Intellectual Property Watch asked Kanayo Nwanze of the International Fund for Agricultural Development to explain how to best create incentives for technology development aimed at helping smallholding farmers, how to achieve agricultural growth without damaging the environment, and how to use intellectual property to forward those goals.
Funds For US State Dept. Global IP Enforcement Training 11/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States State Department has received requested funding to operate 11 projects totalling nearly $4 million in fiscal year 2009 “combat transnational crime and promote the protection of intellectual property rights worldwide,” according to State. The funds enable US law enforcement agencies and diplomatic missions to “collaborate in the delivery of criminal enforcement training […]
‘Positive Noises’ On Resuming Talks On WIPO Audiovisual Performances Treaty 09/09/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization this week may have witnessed the beginnings of a resumption of high-level negotiations on an international treaty on the protection of audiovisual performances.
Non-Commercial Groups Oppose Changes In ICANN Committee 09/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Structural reforms within the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) that altered the representation of non-commercial interests of internet users in ICANN policy development are “seriously flawed,” according to the body’s non-commercial users’ group. ICANN is the non-profit body that provides technical coordination of the internet. An open letter, available here, was sent […]
Third Revision Of Patent Law In China 08/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The third amendment of China’s patent law will enter into force from 1 October, 2009. In this article, Wenting Cheng explores the major changes in substantive requirements for patent grant, post grant enforcement and adaptation of Chinese patent law to international norms on the protection of intellectual property.
WTO Ruling On Brazil-US Cotton Opens Door To Cross-Retaliation Against IP Rights 07/09/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization has issued an arbitration report in a dispute between the United States and Brazil over US cotton subsidies, giving Brazil the right to use trade countermeasures against the US, and in certain circumstances to suspend intellectual property obligations.