Qatar WTO Dispute Case: An Issue Of IP Or National Security? 24/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week blocked the first request by Qatar for a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel to rule on measures by UAE that Qatar alleges interfere with trade in goods and services and with protection of Qatar’s intellectual property rights. Neighbouring countries say they have taken actions out of concern that Qatar is providing financial support for terrorist groups.
CARB-X Makes Award For First Topical Antimicrobial; Could Be Used In Emergency Settings 24/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CARB-X, an initiative aimed at accelerating innovation in antibacterial treatment, today announced an award to a company to accelerate development of a new bioengineered antimicrobial intended to be applied directly to affected tissues. This follows an announcement earlier this month of funding another firm to develop a new antibiotic class to treat drug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.
Staff Union Welcomes Next EPO President, Hopes For Dialogue 23/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In a letter to its members, the Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO) in The Hague, Netherlands has welcomed the election of Antonio Campinos as new President of the EPO a week ago, expressed hope for a change in EPO management-workforce relations and has some recommendations for next steps.
CCIA Report: Digital Music Industry Sees Strong Revenue Growth, Creativity, Choice 19/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A technology association-backed report released this week shows strong growth in revenues for the music industry over the past 5 to 10 years, driven by digital music. The data counters the current European copyright reform concern over a “value gap” for the music industry, the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) said.
56 Groups Call For Deletion Of Internet Filtering Provision In EU Copyright Proposal 16/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Today a range of civil society organisations sent an open letter to European Union policymakers calling for the removal of a provision they say would violate citizens’ rights by forcing monitoring and filtering of copyrighted materials.
Cancer Group Recommendations To Ensure Medicines Access In South Africa Draft IP Policy 13/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A US cancer group has provided a series of recommendations to the South African government on ways to improve the country’s draft national intellectual property policy, including greater transparency, voluntary licensing, and the use of compulsory licences.
WIPO: Rise In Retirement Age Delayed 2 Years; LGBT Workers Get Protection 11/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization will increase the retirement age to 65 for all workers starting in 2020, one year earlier than it had proposed but still a delay aimed at freeing up some job posts through earlier retirements.
Latest Draft From WIPO Informal Negotiations On TK, Genetic Resources 11/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new draft emerged today, the last day of the negotiations, on renewal of the mandate of a World Intellectual Property Organization committee on protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
300 NGOs Demand No New E-Commerce Agenda At WTO Ministerial 11/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Some 300 global nongovernmental organisations have signed a letter voicing concerns about the agenda of the upcoming World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in December. In particular, they target the alleged push by some countries for a new agenda on digital trade, which they describe as “wrong.”
WHO Establishes High-Level Commission On Noncommunicable Diseases 10/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The UN World Health Organization today announced it has established a new high-level global commission on noncommunicable diseases, to be chaired by former WHO director general candidate Sania Nishtar of Pakistan.