Development Agenda Implementation Discussed Before WIPO Assemblies 18/09/2007 by Paul Garwood for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Paul Garwood More technical assistance to developing countries, closer collaboration between UN agencies and overhauling the World Intellectual Property Organization were among calls made during a conference of leading players in the intellectual property community held Monday. The conference, entitled “The Reform of WIPO: Implementing the Development Agenda,” was the second such event. The […]
Kenya Rejects Bid To Remove Government’s Compulsory Licensing Flexibilities 14/09/2007 by Paul Garwood for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Paul Garwood Kenya’s Parliament has rejected a proposal to revoke the government’s powers to issue compulsory licenses to manufacture products such as generic medicines without patent holder approval, a move welcomed Friday by supporters of universal access to pharmaceuticals. The decision, made late Wednesday, protects Kenya’s ability to acquire affordable generic medicines, such as […]
Kenyan Parliament To Debate Scrapping Compulsory Licensing Powers 12/09/2007 by Paul Garwood for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Paul Garwood Kenyan lawmakers are set to debate proposed amendments to a bill that, if passed, would prevent the government from issuing compulsory licenses to produce urgently needed medicines without seeking approval from the patent holder. The amendments, which involve deleting parts of Kenya’s Industrial Property Act of 2001, were first expected to be […]
US Patent Reform Bill Clears House of Representatives 09/09/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch The United States House of Representatives Friday approved sweeping changes to the US patent system, setting the stage for Senate action which could send the measure to the president for signature. By a margin of 220-175, lawmakers passed “The Patent Reform Act of 2007,” HR 1908, with five […]
US Internet Radio Royalty Deals Announced; Webcasters Seek Lower Rates 04/09/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Despite recently trumpeted deals with SoundExchange, which collects fees for record labels and artists, large and small US webcasters say royalty rates for Internet music performances are still too high and should be lowered by the US Congress. The fee caps are the latest development in the dispute […]
WHO Holds Online Hearing On Innovation, IP Project 17/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The World Health Organization is inviting participation in a six-week online public hearing from anyone interested in commenting on an ongoing process on how to ensure treatments for neglected diseases mainly found in developing countries. “WHO again encourages individuals, civil society groups, government institutions, academic and research institutions, the private […]
Germany: Fight Escalates Over Copyright Fee For Computers 17/08/2007 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch The fight between German collecting rights societies and hardware companies is escalating. This week the CEO of the society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights, Harald Heker, heavily criticised the German Association for Information Technology, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM), claiming it was denying authors and artists […]
US Elevates WTO IP Case Against China By Seeking Panel 13/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The United States has asked the World Trade Organization to take to the next level a case it filed on China’s intellectual property rights protection after four months of consultations did not lead to the desired results, the US Trade Representative (USTR) said. The case on copyright and trademark protection […]
WIPO: ‘Explosive Growth’ In Patent Filings Strains IP System 10/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The shape of the intellectual property map is changing, with Northeast Asia moving into the top of the list of number of patent filings in 2005, says a new report from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). There was a 4.7 percent average annual increase in patent filings worldwide from […]
Las cuestiones de propiedad intelectual permanecen en juego en las negociaciones de la OMC 06/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por William New Las cuestiones de propiedad intelectual podrán no ser “decisivas” en la actual ronda de negociaciones de liberalización del comercio en la Organización Mundial del Comercio, pero siguen siendo un factor relevante. En la sesión de apertura de la semana pasada del Comité de Negociaciones Comerciales (CNC), el Director General de la OMC […]