US Bill Would Prohibit Generics Delay 04/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The practice of brand name companies paying generic manufacturers to delay the entry of lower-priced generics into the market could become illegal, if a bill before the United States House of Representatives passes. The bill (available here [pdf]) is “to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of […]
China Blocking Key Foreign Media Sites 03/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments China is blocking its citizens’ access to leading international social media and news websites in the lead-up to the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square anti-democracy massacre in Beijing. Media and information sharing sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, and Flickr as well as mainstream media such as the Financial Times, New York Times and […]
CVs Of WIPO Leadership Nominees Now Available 03/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Names and biographies of the seven people who will likely lead the World Intellectual Property Organization secretariat under Director General Francis Gurry have been officially released on the WIPO website here [pdf]. Intellectual Property Watch reported on the new deputy and assistant directors general last week (IPW, WIPO, 28 May 2009), but the WIPO document […]
US Supreme Court To Rule On Business Method Patents 03/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Supreme Court, the nation’s highest court, has decided to review a case involving patenting of business methods, which could have a significant impact on the future of patenting. On 30 October 2008, the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals – often called the country’s “patent court” – issued its decision in In […]
WIPO Names First-Ever Chief Economist 02/06/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A well-known European economist has been named the first-ever Chief Economist at the World Intellectual Property Organization, according to sources.
WIPO Limitations & Exceptions Treaty Advances; Audiovisual Treaty Gets New Life 30/05/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments After intensive negotiations, the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee reached agreement Friday night on a plan to address a proposed treaty on copyright exceptions for visually impaired persons and others. There also appeared to be a renewed focus on a decade-old treaty proposal on audiovisual performances, according to participants.
Proposed WIPO Treaty On Visually Impaired Access Gets Deeper Look 29/05/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A treaty on copyright exceptions for visually impaired persons proposed this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization met with no immediate objections, according to participants, but how to treat the proposal and other limitations and exceptions in the future has led to a sharpening divergence among governments.
Advice To Obama On Global Health: Open Access 28/05/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With US health resources, a “wide gap remains between what can be done with existing knowledge and what is actually being done” says a new report by the National Academies Institute of Medicine, which is meant to advise the Obama administration’s health policy. Some activities that it said need more attention involve intellectual property rights. […]
WIPO To Create Deputy Directors For Global Issues, Trademarks 28/05/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization is expected this month to create a new deputy director general for global challenges, and will raise trademarks to the DDG level while moving copyright responsibility back to the assistant director general level, according to sources at WIPO. The appointments have not been finalised and consultations may be continuing.
Special Report: The Future Of File Sharing 28/05/2009 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Digital content owners continue to emphasise enforcement and protection of intellectual property. However, the impact that litigation and legislation have had with the purpose of limiting illegal file sharing remains questionable, thus setting the stage for new economic models and approaches that could serve as a remedy.