Global Oversight For Internet; US Role In Core Infrastructure Unchanged 01/10/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A mere “affirmation of commitments” (AoC) between the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the United States Department of Commerce has replaced the decade-old joint project agreement in place in different forms since ICANN started technical coordination of names and numbers on the net in 1998.
Role Of WIPO On Traditional Knowledge In Question 30/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Failure to resolve the deadlock over traditional knowledge at the World Intellectual Property Organization would call into question the organisation’s role, some member states said this week, as the chair of the General Assemblies tabled a text in an attempt to bridge major gaps that still remain. Meanwhile, the organisation adopted a commitment to approve the availability of documents in all its languages.
Bangkok Climate Change Meeting Aims For Draft Deal For Copenhagen 28/09/2009 by Sinfah Tunsarawuth for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment BANGKOK – Government officials and private stakeholders were urged Monday to strike differences from the 280 pages of negotiating text in preparing a draft that could become a global agreement on climate change in December 2009.
WIPO Approves CHF64 Million Conference Hall; Intensive Informals Held On Traditional Knowledge 25/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment How to handle the deadlocked negotiations on traditional knowledge remains a sticky decision at this year’s World Intellectual Property Organization General Assemblies, with four proposals on the table and informal meetings ongoing in advance of a formal discussion next week. Meanwhile, WIPO member governments this week agreed to fund a CHF64.2 million franc WIPO conference centre aimed for late 2012.
Fate Of Traditional Knowledge A Key Decision At WIPO Assemblies 22/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization must be able to set norms for innovation, from the latest development in technology to traditional knowledge systems, if it is to retain its relevance in policymaking, said its director general at the opening of the UN agency’s annual General Assemblies today. A key decision on WIPO’s agenda this week is the future of its committee on the protection of traditional knowledge and genetic resources, where agreement has proved unreachable over the last year.
“IP Authorities” Pay Homage To PCT, Call For Action On Harmonisation, Backlog 21/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Improved searches and application quality and a focus on backlog reduction are necessary to improve the patent system, patent authorities concluded at a World Intellectual Property Organization symposium last week. This will require patent offices around the world to work together, and the WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty, most speakers said, is the path forward for global patent coordination.
EU Sets Out H1N1 Flu Strategy; Partners With Pharma On Medicines Development 20/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Several strategy papers laying out a plan to aid European Union member states in responding to the pandemic outbreak of H1N1 influenza were published last week by the European Commission, as Europe enters its fall flu season. Meanwhile, a partnership between the Commission and the European pharmaceutical industry announced a second call for proposals, aimed at increasing research and development of medicines for cancer as well as infectious disease.
WIPO: Patents, Trademarks Tied To Economic Cycles But Crisis Impact Uneven 20/09/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry was accompanied publicly for the first time by the United Nations agency’s first economist as they presented data Friday showing the positive correlation between patent applications and economic cycles.
Human Rights, Multi-Stakeholder Approach Are European Priority For Internet Governance 18/09/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Stakeholders gathered this week to discuss a European approach to the governance of the internet in the lead-up to the next global forum on the issue. The second European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) took place in Geneva on 14-15 September and brought together some 200 representatives.
EPO Announces Four Candidates For Next President 17/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Patent Office today announced four people in the running to replace its current president, Alison Brimelow, who is not seeking another term after hers expires on 30 June 2010.