Challenge Raised To Constitutionality Of Brazilian Pipeline Patents 22/01/2008 by Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments By Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch RIO DE JANEIRO – Doubt about the constitutionality of an aspect of the Brazilian Industrial Property Law has been raised by civil society institutions to Attorney General Antônio Fernando Barros e Silva e Souza. Articles 230 and 231 of Brazil’s Law 9.279/96 created the mechanism known as the […]
China Acts To Boost Patents On Publicly Funded Research 16/01/2008 by Jia Hepeng for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Jia Hepeng for Intellectual Property Watch BEIJING – In a renewed effort to boost innovation, China has decided to endow scientists with the patents on publicly funded research, but experts say systematic adjustment is needed if the incentive is to achieve its desired effect.
Patent And Copyright Reform Proposals Lead US IP Issues For 2008 16/01/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch The year 2008 could be a turning point for intellectual property policy and law in the United States, with key patent, copyright and enforcement legislation pending, legal decisions unfolding, and high drama in the battle over content online. All of this comes in the context of a national presidential election late in the year.
Online Content, Patent Reform Are Key For Europe In 2008 07/01/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Copyright issues take centre stage this year as debate intensifies in the European Union over Internet service provider (ISP) responsibility for online piracy. In addition, the proposed European patent litigation system, considered dead last year, has been resurrected, as has the discussion over copyright levies on blank media. […]
New Year Brings Prospect Of New WIPO Leader, Budget Agreement 21/12/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New [Note: Informal DG candidates listed below] The campaign season has begun to fill the top seat at the World Intellectual Property Organization, which is being vacated in 2008, one year early. At the same time, WIPO members have been debating over how and when to try again to end a stalemate over […]
December/January Edition of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Now Available 21/12/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Intellectual Property Watch Monthly Reporter features the most important news on international IP policymaking, the latest on who is coming and going in the IP community at the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Geneva missions, regional and national IP offices, industry and non-governmental organisations, plus News Briefs on reports and events that do not […]
USPTO Deputy Director’s Qualifications Backed; Lawsuit Could Return 20/12/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch It was a victory for the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), but it may be short-lived. On 7 December, a US federal court threw out a lawsuit that challenged Margaret Peterlin’s appointment as deputy director of the USPTO. Four inventors and patent attorneys had alleged that Peterlin […]
International Implications Of Red Cross Trademark Fight Unclear 20/12/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Catherine Saez Months after health products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson filed a civil complaint against the American Red Cross and its commercial licensees to stop using the symbol of a red cross, the public interest it generated seems to have all but subsided. However, questions about the possible consequences of this lawsuit at the international level remain unanswered. After roughly 100 years of sharing the symbol, the two entities are now fighting over it. The lawsuit filed by US-based Johnson & Johnson (J&J) against the American Red Cross (ARC) and four of its licensing partners on 8 August focused mainly on preventing the ARC and its licensing partners from using the red cross design on commercial products such as first aid kits to prevent unfair competition. The American Red Cross has licensed sale of its kits in large-scale retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target and major drug stores.
Thailand Moves To Amend Copyright Law To Regulate Royalties 19/12/2007 by Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch BANGKOK – Thailand’s lawmakers on Tuesday finalised a draft bill to amend its copyrights law in an effort to regulate the collecting of royalties in domestic music industry, which bill proponents say has been subject to extortion by gangsters and corrupt law enforcers. The bill, finalised on 18 […]
WIPO Consults On Protecting Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources 19/12/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments By Catherine Saez How best to protect traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources against misappropriation and misuse was the main theme of a recent community consultation in the form of a roundtable organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The WIPO event on 10-12 December came in response to “the strong level […]