European Commission Paper On Single Market For Creative Content 22/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The European Commission on 22 October published a “reflection paper,” available here (pdf), highlighting the challenges of creating a European digital single market for creative content, according to a press release. The paper was released at the same time as a study published by two European consulting firms and the Institute for Information Law at […]
Perpetual Protection Of Traditional Knowledge “Not On Table” At WIPO 22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Protection of traditional knowledge under intellectual property rights may have a time limit, though determining duration of protection measures will be more difficult than it is with Western scientific innovation, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry said yesterday.
Disagreements Remain In WHO Talks On Virus-Sharing After Chan Proposal 22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization members this week offered views on the global system for virus- and benefit-sharing for pandemic influenza following recently proposed solutions by Director General Margaret Chan aimed at changing the current, ad-hoc model to a more predictable, sustainably-funded system.
US Industry View: Can Content Survive Online? (Podcast) 21/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A forum called the Intellectual Property Colloquium has posted an open-access podcast of a discussion about online business models with Brad Smith, Microsoft general counsel, Scott Martin, executive vice president of Paramount Pictures, and Dan Cooper, vice president of business and legal affairs at MySpace. The discussion is hosted by Doug Lichtman, professor at the […]
Advocates Warn Against ‘Monsantosizing’ Of Global Food Sources 21/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food prepares to present his report today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a global appeal is being filed by farmers and environmental organisations against patents on plants and animals derived from conventional breeding.
European Commission Communication On Copyright Online 21/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Commission on 19 October published a communication on copyright in the knowledge economy that sets out the plan for changes in European copyright over the coming month and in 2010. Three issues the Directorate General Internal Market and Directorate General Information Society want to tackle are: preparation of a EU-wide legal instrument on […]
Academics Debate Patent “Exhaustion Doctrine” 20/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Can a patent-holder ask for royalties from third-party purchasers? The United States Supreme Court said ‘no’ in the 2008 landmark case Quanta Computer Inc. v. LG Electronics Inc. (IPW, US Policy, 25 June 2008). But what does this decision mean for both patent law and rights holders? Five academics – Richard A. Epstein, F. Scott […]
Lamy Reports On TRIPS Consultations 20/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Director General Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization reported today to member states on his most recent consultations on outstanding issues of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). He was speaking in his capacity as chairman of the high-level Trade Negotiations Committee. His 8 October consultation addressed questions posed by […]
EFPIA Unveils Anti-Counterfeit Authentication System 20/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A pilot project intended to counter the challenge of counterfeit medicines entering the legitimate supply chain has been launched this week in Sweden by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. The project involves individually identifying packs of medicine through the use of a small “data matrix” which, when scanned, can give pharmacists information […]
Spurring Local Innovation In Africa By Improving Access To Information 19/10/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment Greater awareness of the existence of open access information resources for innovation and making the information easily accessible and relevant to developing country users could help spur innovation in these countries, according to top technical assistance providers and local innovators.