IT Innovation Supporting Home-Grown Solutions In Uganda 15/10/2014 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment With the world’s youngest population, fast-rising access to internet and rapid spread of the use of mobile phones, Ugandans are starting to embrace information and communication technology innovations. This is confirmed by the increasing number of mobile and web applications with working prototypes developed in the country.
Special Report: Russia Modernises Its Intellectual Property Law 14/10/2014 by Daria Kim for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments As of 1 October, major amendments of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation (the RF Civil Code) came into force concluding the most recent and extensive legislative revision since Part I of the Code was adopted in 1994. Changes affected substantive and procedural norms including Part IV codifying provisions on intellectual property rights. This report takes stock of some of the introduced novelties.
EU Legislation On Nagoya Protocol Becomes Effective; What Effect On Indigenous Peoples’ Rights? 14/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The entry into force of an international treaty facilitating access to genetic resources and ensuring the fair sharing of potential commercial benefits has prompted the applicability of a European Union regulation relating to the treaty. This led a researcher to call on the treaty members to ensure its implementation protects the rights of indigenous and local communities.
UPOV Governing Body Meets This Week Amid Civil Society Concerns Over Harmonisation 13/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is holding meetings of its governing and technical bodies this week. In particular, the UPOV Council is expected to renew Francis Gurry’s mandate as the organisation’s secretary-general, approve technical documents, and confirm the conformity of a Tanzanian plant breeders’ rights act. Meanwhile, civil society has sounded the alarm over what it considers to be efforts to harmonise the application and examination procedures by the seed industry. Separately, a civil society study, carried out on three developing countries claims that UPOV 1991 might be threatening the global right to food.
Nagoya Protocol Enters Into Force, Will Be Tested In Months To Come 09/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments The Nagoya Protocol, a treaty expected to ensure greater access to genetic resources and a mandatory fair benefit-sharing of the benefits that could be derived from those resources, will enter into force on 12 October, almost four years after it was agreed.
Tech Industry Report Ranks Countries On Protectionism – Including IPR 08/10/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A report released today by an American technology industry group ranks countries on the basis of mercantilist policies, urging the United States and multilateral organisations to issue a “bold response” to these restrictive and anti-competitive practices – including intellectual property theft and compulsory licensing permitted under WTO rules in developing countries. The top targets? China and India.
Alarm Over Monsanto-Backed Push To Acquire African Seed Company 08/10/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An African civil society group has voiced concerns about the takeover by giant multinational seed companies of home-grown African seed companies, the latest of which involves Africa’s SeedCo.
Interview – New CISAC Director Speaks On Expectations, Vision For The Future 08/10/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Paris-based International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CISAC) represents 230 collective management organisations in 120 countries, collecting fees on behalf of “creators.” In the past year, CISAC has become active advocating the case of creators at the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). CISAC organised a side event to the annual WIPO General Assembly in September (IPW, WIPO, 29 September 2014). Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez sat down with new CISAC Director General Gadi Oron after the side event, to ask him about his vision for the organisation.
Formal IP System Does Not Fit Africa, LDCs Need Technological Capacity, Speakers Say 07/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On the last day of the World Trade Organization Public Forum, a panel discussed the relationship between intellectual property and innovation in Africa, in particular in the informal sector. The formal IP system does not seems to fit, and least-developed countries need a sound technological base to be able to use the IP system. Separately, a European Patent Office study shows that Africa has a vast yet untapped potential in renewable energy.
Global Value Chains In Africa: Set Of Preconditions Needed To Be Profitable, Panel Says 06/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At the World Trade Organization Public Forum last week, a panel explored opportunities for Africa in global and regional value chains. A certain level of development needs to be achieved so that countries can benefit from global value chains, speakers said.