US Secrecy Prevails In German Constitutional Court 15/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The German constitutional court has rebuffed a second complaint seeking to allow oversight bodies to see the US National Security Administration (NSA) selector list.
South Centre, FAO Sign Agreement Promoting Tech Transfer, Innovation 15/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The intergovernmental South Centre and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation have signed a five-year agreement to help the global south fight malnutrition, reduce poverty, and address climate change consequences. The memorandum of understanding was signed on the margins of the recent climate change discussion held in Marrakesh.
Protection For Broadcasters, Copyright Exceptions This Week At WIPO 14/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members this week are expected to move toward common ground on a treaty protecting broadcasters against piracy. Some members are showing signs of impatience and are pushing for a swift resolution of issues to convene a high-level negotiating meeting in 2018. The WIPO copyright committee will also continue discussing exceptions to copyrights for archives, libraries, and research institutions. New WIPO Deputy Director General for copyright Sylvie Forbin opened the meeting today.
Trade Secret Use Increases; Stringent Protection Seen Encouraging Innovation 14/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Trade secrets have gained the favour of a growing number of companies, according to speakers at a side event held in the margins of last week’s World Trade Organization intellectual property committee meeting. Organised by the European Union, Japan, and the United States, the side event explored the reasons why companies choose to protect their innovations through trade secrets.
WTO Members Discuss UN High-Level Report On Medicines Access That WHO Declined To Discuss 10/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee this week discussed the report of United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on access to medicines which offered recommendations regarding the use of intellectual property in international trade. Developing countries taking the floor accentuated the use of flexibilities under trade rules, and the World Health Organization gave an overview of how its activities follow the panel’s recommendations, and its future projects. Civil society meanwhile criticised the WHO’s decision to dismiss a request by some developing countries to include discussions on the UN report at the next Executive Board Meeting.
WIPO Committee Agrees To Focus Work To Improve WIPO Technical Assistance 04/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development today agreed on how the committee should continue work on improving WIPO technical assistance to developing countries. For the next six sessions, delegates will work on a proposal for forums and secretariat reports with the aim of raising the accountability and effectiveness of WIPO technical assistance.
A Summary Of International CopyCamp 2016 04/11/2016 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Summary of one of the coolest annual conferences in Europe, provided by Krzysztof Siewicz, Modern Poland Foundation
WIPO Members Divided On IP Agency’s Role In Implementation Of UN Sustainable Development Goals 02/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Countries of the world decided in 2015 to launch an ambitious agenda to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. What should be the role of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization in the attainment of the adopted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals? This question, discussed at the WIPO Committee on Development and IP, is dividing countries, as developed countries argue that only a few goals apply to the work of WIPO, and others argue that there should be no ‘cherrypicking’ as all the goals in one way or another do apply to WIPO’s work as a UN agency.
WIPO Members Working Out Response To Independent Review of Development Agenda 02/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The first review of the implementation of the 2007 Development Agenda Recommendations aimed at infusing a development dimension into the World Intellectual Property Organization found that this implementation had been mostly consistent with the expectations of member states, but the review provided a list of suggestions to fill additional gaps. In committee this week, some countries asked that the WIPO secretariat prepare a response on how it plans to implement the recommendations provided by the experts conducting the review, but this is yet to be agreed.
WIPO Committee Debates SDGs, Review Of Development Agenda Recommendations 01/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) is meeting this week with an agenda including the presentation of a first review on how well WIPO implemented its Development Agenda Recommendations from 2008 to 2015. Also on the agenda is a discussion on what United Nations Sustainable Development Goals can be applied to WIPO’s work, and what the role of WIPO is in technology transfer.