Asian Governments Plan To Better Use TRIPS Flexibilities For Health 01/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments International trade rules related to intellectual property rights enshrine the notion that there may be cases where exceptions to IP rights are needed by governments, such as sovereign decisions on a nation’s public health. Using those flexibilities could save millions of lives but may mean taking a tough stance in free trade negotiations with bigger trading partners, concluded a meeting of Asian stakeholders this week.
ICANN To Reveal New Internet Domain Applications In Mid-June 01/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the domain name system technical oversight body, will shortly make public the list of applied for new domains.
US: New Battle Brewing At ITU Will ‘Determine The Future Of The Internet’ 01/06/2012 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The United States stands united in its opposition to any international proposal to regulate the internet or to expand the jurisdiction of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU) over the Web, US officials said on 31 May.
MSF Medicines Access Campaign Director Departs; New Director Named 31/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors without Borders) announced today that it has named a new executive director of its Access to Medicines Campaign, a high-impact advocacy initiative on international public health issues in Geneva and elsewhere. Today was the last day for current Executive Director Tido von Schoen-Angerer, who completed two three-year terms in the role.
Rod Of Justice For French Internet Infringers May Soften 30/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The French “three-strike” law aimed at preventing illegal downloading of protected works on the internet, enacted in October 2009 after much controversy, may be modified by the newly elected French government, according to sources.
Russia’s Largest Social Network vKontakte Held Liable For Copyright Infringement 30/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The 13th Commercial Court of Appeal recently affirmed the decision of the Commercial Court of St. Petersburg in Russia’s leading P2P case ruling that the social network vKontakte, a Facebook lookalike, is liable for copyright infringement.
Golden Oldies? South African High Court Looks At What Is “Traditional” 29/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The question of the use of material in the public domain for the inspiration of new works has been complicated in South Africa by legislation which purports to grant retrospective perpetual protection to so-called “traditional works”. A case pending in the South African High Court highlights the question of what is “traditional” and raises the question of to whom music companies will have to look in the future to obtain permission to use anything that smacks of a traditional flavour. Prof. Owen Dean asks: Could this be a disincentive to use traditional material belonging in the public domain and thus slow cultural expression?
World Health Assembly: WHO Carves Out Leadership Role In “Vaccine Decade” 28/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With a generous pledge and a grand vision, Bill Gates launched the “Decade of Vaccines” two years ago. By endorsing a “Global Vaccine Action Plan” during the World Health Assembly, the world’s health authority stands as the lead agency in advancing the initiative.
World Health Assembly: Member States Call For Acceleration On Pandemic Flu Preparedness 26/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment One year since the adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, member states emphasised the importance of bio-sharing initiative and in some in cases raised concerns about the pace of implementation.
No Agreement On Future Work At WIPO Committee On Patents 26/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A full day and an evening of informal discussions was not enough for the World Intellectual Property Organization member states to reach agreement on the future work of the patent committee yesterday. Developed and developing countries held firm to their positions after reconvening in plenary past midnight, with disappointment as sole common ground.