WHO Discusses Polio, Hepatitis C, Vaccines, Affordability 29/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization Executive Board this week noted a number of reports on communicable diseases, such as poliomyelitis, and vaccines. Developing countries underlined the affordability and accessibility of treatments. The board also agreed on the setting up of an open-ended intergovernmental meeting to come to agreement on the organisation’s governance reform.
Nigerian Copyright Reform Becomes Less Transparent As Comments Roll In 25/01/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Nigerian government has continued to make progress toward new copyright legislation in recent weeks, but efforts appear to have become less transparent, as the results of a public comment period that ended weeks ago have not been made available and the draft copy of the bill is no longer available on the Copyright Commission website.
Panels Look At IP Considerations In Representing Creative Talent 19/01/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK – At a conference of hundreds of performers and agents in a hotel perched on Times Square this week, panellists told some interesting stories about intellectual property rights and protecting – or failing to protect – creations and performances.
ITU Report On Internet Of Things: Great Potential For Development But Privacy, Interoperability Concerns 19/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Connected devices talking to each other and to humans could solve major global challenges and be a vector for global development, according to a new report by the UN International Telecommunication Union and Cisco Systems. However, issues remain, such as strategies to protect privacy, and interoperability between devices and systems.
A Look At The Marrakesh Treaty Ratification In Brazil 14/01/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Marrakesh Treaty, first of its kind, will enter into force three months after the deposit of the instruments of ratification or accession by 20 eligible countries. So far, thirteen have done so. Brazil, which was one of the main proponents and negotiators, deposited its ratification of the treaty on December 11, 2015, after the yearlong internal legislative process. The key question we are trying to face here is how the ratification of this treaty may impact Brazilian copyright legislation and the interpretation of the limitations.
Council Of Europe Guidelines For Network Neutrality To Protect Freedom Of Expression, Privacy 13/01/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Council of Europe (CoE), the intergovernmental regional group that includes the European Union, today called on European governments protect the principle of network neutrality at the national level. The member countries adopted guidelines on protecting and promoting the right to freedom of expression and the right to privacy related to network neutrality.
Opportunities And Challenges That The Internet Of Things Creates 13/01/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Over the past few years, we’ve seen paramount change in the way we access the internet – it started with desktops and soon shifted to mobile devices. But the world hasn’t been waiting for long to see it grow into something huge. Internet intelligence is now knocking at the door of our homes, cities, and businesses – this is what you’ve heard of as the Internet of Things (IoT).
Local Rooibos Tea Growers Take Charge In Effort To Gain GI Protection 12/01/2016 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Small growers of Rooibos tea, in a remote region of South Africa, have taken up the charge in pursuing a geographic indication certification to protect their unique red tea against misuse and imitation. Intellectual Property Watch brings you the local story.
50+ US Congress Members Urge Reasonable Licensing Terms For Government-Funded Medical Patents 11/01/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments More than 50 members of the United States Congress today sent a letter urging the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) to exercise their legal authority to require medical patents that have emerged from government-funded medical research projects to be licensed on reasonable and affordable terms for public use.
TPP, India Most-Read IP-Watch Stories Of 2015 11/01/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The most-read stories of 2015 on the Intellectual Property Watch website fairly reflected the trends of the year, with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, India’s evolving intellectual property rights policies, European Patent Office patents on conventional vegetables, biologics, 3D printing, and some pop culture issues leading the way. In the coming weeks, IP-Watch will review in-depth what’s in store for 2016, already underway. But for now, let’s take a look at last year’s highlights.