Discussion On Counterfeits With A Flavour Of Rum At WTO TRIPS Council 06/06/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Intellectual property enforcement was discussed at yesterday’s session of the World Trade Organization council on IP-related issues in two different contexts, both involving the United States. Cuba complained about the US failure to comply with a 10-year-old ruling on a Cuban rum brand name, and the US added an agenda item on enforcement against counterfeit goods, both of which created some stir.
ITU: More Transparency On World Conference On Telecommunications? 04/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today announced it would start publishing briefing papers on the issues surrounding the revision of the International Telecommunication Regulations (ITR) and explain the “processes as well participation rights and opportunities to comment.”
European Nuclear Lab CERN Launches New “Easy IP” Plan 04/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Does the idea of a multifunctional, versatile position-sensitive detector for measuring characteristics of a beam of particles spark ideas for useful products of benefit to society and the economy? If so, then CERN has just the thing for you. In an attempt to boost the utility of its research, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the Geneva-based intergovernmental laboratory, today announced a plan to offer its patented technologies for licence royalty-free in order to promote innovation.
Asian Governments Plan To Better Use TRIPS Flexibilities For Health 01/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments International trade rules related to intellectual property rights enshrine the notion that there may be cases where exceptions to IP rights are needed by governments, such as sovereign decisions on a nation’s public health. Using those flexibilities could save millions of lives but may mean taking a tough stance in free trade negotiations with bigger trading partners, concluded a meeting of Asian stakeholders this week.
ICANN To Reveal New Internet Domain Applications In Mid-June 01/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the domain name system technical oversight body, will shortly make public the list of applied for new domains.
US: New Battle Brewing At ITU Will ‘Determine The Future Of The Internet’ 01/06/2012 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The United States stands united in its opposition to any international proposal to regulate the internet or to expand the jurisdiction of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) over the Web, US officials said on 31 May.
Compulsory Licences Positive For The South, With Conditions, Study Finds 31/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Compulsory licences can provide an efficient way to decrease prices of drugs in developing countries but the conditions of issuance of a licence influence the benefits countries can derive from them, particularly if the countries have a technology gap, according to an economic model presented this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
MSF Medicines Access Campaign Director Departs; New Director Named 31/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors without Borders) announced today that it has named a new executive director of its Access to Medicines Campaign, a high-impact advocacy initiative on international public health issues in Geneva and elsewhere. Today was the last day for current Executive Director Tido von Schoen-Angerer, who completed two three-year terms in the role.
G8 Countries Take Hard Line On Counterfeit Medicines 31/05/2012 by Matthew Gibson for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Group of Eight (G8) industrialised countries recently met to discuss major challenges to the global economy, climate change, food security and nutrition, and political and security issues. And the commitments they made on intellectual property rights reflect their current thinking on the issue.
Russia’s Largest Social Network vKontakte Held Liable For Copyright Infringement 30/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The 13th Commercial Court of Appeal recently affirmed the decision of the Commercial Court of St. Petersburg in Russia’s leading P2P case ruling that the social network vKontakte, a Facebook lookalike, is liable for copyright infringement.