WHO, WTO, WIPO Combine Forces To Improve Patent Information For Public Health 18/02/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Patents and public health are sometimes seen as a mismatch, but three prominent international organisations today stepped up their collaboration on ways to facilitate access to medicines by making a better use of the patent system. Effective, reliable and transparent information on patents is necessary to help decision-makers take the best public health approaches for global health coverage, panellists said.
WIPO Could Enter Growing Fray Over Internet Domain Takedowns 17/02/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments An influential private sector trademark defender is proposing to the World Intellectual Property Organization to undertake creation of an international “notice and takedown” system for alleged online trademark infringers. And he told Intellectual Property Watch that this will be followed in a few months by a separate proposal for a “notice-and-trackdown” article requiring internet service providers to divulge information about online counterfeiters so they can be gone after.
WTO GI Discussions Gather Speed, Parties Watchful Until Negotiations 15/02/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The international protection of wines and spirits named after geographical locations has seen renewed attention at the World Trade Organization since the beginning of the year as part of a push to conclude the Doha Round of trade liberalisation. Legal effects and costs of a register for such wines and spirits were addressed last week.
Economist: Breadth Of Patent Portfolio Better Than Betting On One Winner 11/02/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Determining the value of patented inventions is akin to a guessing game, said a speaker at the World Intellectual Property Organization yesterday. Companies should try to spread their patents over related technological innovations rather focusing on one patent, hoping it will be “the philosopher’s stone”.
Pharma Backs Calls For Extension Of TRIPS Deadline For Least-Developed Countries 10/02/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Developed country pharmaceutical companies today announced their support for an extension of the deadline for poor countries to comply with a global trade agreement on intellectual property rights that would significantly raise their obligations to protect IP. The extension idea has been proposed by the United Kingdom government in a new trade strategy document.
New White House IP Advisory Committees Elevate IP Enforcement To Highest Level 10/02/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments US President Barack Obama this week used an executive order to create two government advisory committees on intellectual property rights enforcement. The committees put IP rights at the highest interagency level possible and have the stated aim of promoting innovation through the protection of such rights.
International Patent Filings Begin To Bounce Back; China Rocketing, US At Half-Mast 09/02/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The storm appears to be subsiding for international patent filings as 2010 showed a cautious recovery in growth, the head of the World Intellectual Property Organization said today. After the first-ever drop in applications in 2009, 2010 filings almost returned to their 2008 level. And China holds pole position in growth numbers.
WIPO Survey On Patent Filing Strategies Shows Rise In Optimism 07/02/2011 by Tavengwa Runyowa for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A recent economic survey by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) assessed the expected growth in domestic and international patent filings in 2010 compared to 2009. The highest expected growth rates were reported in Asian countries, with modest and declining growth reported in Europe and the United States respectively.
Nations Begin Signing Protocol On Biodiversity Access And Benefit-Sharing 07/02/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Four developing countries have signed a recently completed international agreement on access to genetic resources and the fair retribution of benefits accrued from those resources. The protocol opened for signature in New York last week and efforts are underway to set up an information clearinghouse.
Counterfeit Congress Gives Nod To Developing Country Concerns 04/02/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments PARIS – Sustainable development made what some described as a welcome intrusion at the global congress on counterfeiting and piracy during a dedicated session on Wednesday, with discussions on how to conduct enforcement efforts while taking into account developing country specificities.