WIPO Industrial Design Treaty In Hands Of December Assembly; GI Debate Returns 11/11/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments There appears to be consensus at the World Intellectual Property Organization on establishing a procedural treaty to facilitate the international registration of industrial designs. But a weeklong committee meeting last week could not solve the issue of how to include technical assistance in the treaty. The WIPO General Assembly in December will decide on whether to convene a high-level meeting next year to finalise the treaty. Meanwhile, the United States proposed resuscitating discussions on geographical indications (GIs) in the committee, which stirred resistance.
IP Scores High In Sports – Supports Amateurs, Olympics, Development, Speakers Say 16/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Alongside last week’s meeting of the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee, the United States, European Union and Jamaica organised an event on the relevance of intellectual property in sports. Speakers from professional organisations such as the International Olympic Committee, the Association of European Professional Football Leagues, and the Nike company were invited to share their experience in the matter.
UN Economic Commission For Europe Tackles Innovation In The Public Sector 16/10/2013 by Alessandro Marongiu for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Innovation experts participating in a two-day seminar at the United Nations in Geneva last week highlighted the complexities as well as the potential benefits linked to the promotion of innovative practices in public administrations at the national, regional and local levels.
GAVI: Reducing Prices To Immunise 250 Million Children By 2015 15/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The GAVI Alliance launched a mid-term report this week showing that the public-private partnership is on track to immunise more than 250 million children by 2015 and prevent some four million deaths. GAVI’s CEO said it uses multiple tools to help reduce prices of vaccine and that intellectual property rights do not pose a serious threat to its success.
WTO: Tobacco Plain-Packaging Battle Flares Up; Sports And IP Issues Take The Field 14/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee last week agreed on a draft decision on disputes that are not in direct violation of WTO IP rules but where one country’s measures negatively affect another country’s expected benefits. Plain packaging for tobacco products was also discussed as Ireland is preparing to introduce such a measure meant to discourage tobacco use, and some countries presented their views on the importance of IP rights in sports.
WHO Fine-Tuning Pandemic Flu Preparedness Strategy, Use Of Industry Contributions 11/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization is putting the finishing touches on an implementation plan for industry’s financial participation in the global influenza preparedness strategy. This week the advisory group met to discuss a draft plan presented by the WHO secretariat, which should now come up with a revised version for implementation in early 2014, according to the chair of the advisory group.
USTR Support Of USITC Ban On Samsung Imports Contrasts With Earlier Position 09/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) yesterday approved the US International Trade Commission’s ban on imports of certain electronics from Samsung, based in part on the fact that the patents in the case do not involve standard essential patents (SEPs). By contrast, concern over SEPs was a big reason for the recent White House decision to overturn a USITC finding that Apple had violated Samsung’s patents.
As US Government Shutdown Continues, Effects On IP System Grow 09/10/2013 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The US government shutdown is now in its second week, causing more and more of the country’s intellectual property regime to grind to a halt. The shutdown’s effects also are rippling overseas, hindering US efforts to negotiate two major international trade deals containing significant IP provisions.
At WTO, Online Pharmacy Watchdog, Tobacco Industry Explain Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts 07/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center organised a panel during the World Trade Organization Public Forum last week to explore what industry sees as challenges of trade in the digital age. Three panellists presented concerns – mainly counterfeiting – and solutions they have put in place to address such challenges.
Industry Says IP Key In Technology Dissemination; Others Call For More African Innovation 07/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A panel of industry representatives presented their views at the World Trade Organization on the diffusion of innovation, calling intellectual property rights key to the process. Meanwhile, another panel looked at innovation as a growth strategy for the global South.