WIPO Pitches Proposed Programme Of Strategic Realignment 29/10/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New A few weeks after its new director general took office, the World Intellectual Property Organization has announced a programme of strategic realignment in the secretariat aimed at opening up the organisation and improving the focus on customer service. The plan includes creating 22 new posts, making permanent some 30 other contract employees, […]
Blind Readers Seek Guarantee Of Access Under EU Copyright Law 27/10/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – Exceptions to European Union copyright rules designed to allow blind people access to publications should be made legally binding, according to disability rights organisations. In July, the European Commission opened a public consultation exercise on whether a central piece of EU law on intellectual property needs […]
New Arab Group Aims At Protecting Local Products With Geographical Origins 27/10/2008 by Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch In a bid to harness the significant value of geographical indications to the economies of the 22 member states of the Arab League, an Arab Society for Geographical Indications (ASGI) has been proposed. This was announced by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, president of the private-sector Arab Society for Intellectual Property […]
World Customs Organization Publications Copyright Policy Questioned 21/10/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New In an unusual policy for an international organisation, the World Customs Organization imposes copyright over every document its bodies produce, even agendas, which means that no document can be reproduced without the organisation’s express consent. But now some member governments are questioning this practice, which they say was intended only for the […]
Governments, Financial Stakeholders Meet On Policy For IP As Collateral 19/10/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch Intellectual property and financial stakeholders, representatives from developing and developed countries, and non-governmental organisations are in Vienna this week to work on a global guide on how to use intellectual property as collateral in commerce.
No Agreement For WIPO Committee On Traditional Knowledge And Folklore 18/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Kaitlin Mara Late Friday evening, weary government officials had to admit they had reached a deadlock in negotiations on international protection of traditional knowledge and folklore at the World Intellectual Property Organization. “No agreement,” said the meeting’s chair, Rigoberto Gauto Vielman, leaving the closing plenary. The lack of an outcome from the weeklong meeting […]
New Text For Committee On Traditional Knowledge, Folklore, And Genetic Resources 17/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore has released a draft chairman’s proposal for accelerated work at the next two meetings of the IGC. The text of the document, which includes draft terms of reference for three working groups on traditional cultural […]
WIPO Poised To Move To Talks On Potential Traditional Knowledge “Treaty” 17/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara and William New Member states of the committee on traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and folklore at the World Intellectual Property Organization on Friday must decide whether and how they will carry on the work of the committee after this week’s session ends. Inherent in that decision is whether the group sets the […]
Progress In WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee Seen In Informal Sessions 16/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Movement is beginning to be seen at the World Intellectual Property Organization body tasked with discussing protection for traditional knowledge and folklore as informal meetings – and, in particular, bilateral meetings between the African Group and other regional groups – begin to bridge differences on modalities for future work. Plenary sessions were […]
WIPO Committee On Traditional Knowledge And Folklore Running In Place 16/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Work of the World Intellectual Property Organisation body dedicated to the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore this week has moved largely to informal meetings after progress in the full plenary sessions over the first few days proved elusive. Key points of discussion are whether to hold additional meetings over the coming […]