WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee On Way To New Mandate 22/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Delegates working on an international instrument to protect traditional knowledge and folklore against misappropriation today agreed this afternoon to ask the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly in September to extend the mandate of the committee working on those issues.
Traditional Knowledge, Folkore Treaty Texts Still Advancing At WIPO 22/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week continued work on evolving draft texts of treaties to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), or folklore. But more work will be needed to complete them, according to participants.
Extension Of WIPO Committee On TK, Genetic Resources Appears Likely 20/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments As the mandate of the World Intellectual Property committee on the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and folklore is reaching its end, diplomats meeting this week seem to be coming to agreement on its extension. Meanwhile, a group of developing countries submitted proposals for each of the three legs of the committee, to be considered as delegates go through draft negotiating texts produced at the last session of the committee.
Kenya Opens Region’s Door To GM Maize 19/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In the face of a severe food shortage, Kenya’s Cabinet has approved imports of genetically modified maize, though it has drawn the line on use of GM maize as seeds, a regional newspaper reports.
Decisive Week Ahead For Protection Of Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources 15/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Intellectual Property Organization member countries next week will work on draft negotiating texts on the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. New recommendations by a set of developing countries are calling for a diplomatic conference in 2013, and to extend the work of the committee in charge of reaching an international instrument, as its mandate ends this year.
Interview With Chief Judge Paul R. Michel On US Patent Reform 14/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments Chief Judge Paul R. Michel (Ret.), of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, saw hundreds of patent cases during his distinguished career and has a unique position from which to view and offer advice on efforts in the US Senate and House of Representatives to agree on changes to domestic patent law. Intellectual Property Watch recently had the opportunity to interview Judge Michel on prospects for substantive patent reform in the US, the effect on future cases involving domestic and foreign patents, likely constitutional challenges, and the “non-problem” of non-practicing entities.
El Patent Pool estimula las perspectivas de medicamentos anti-VIH con una primera Licencia 13/07/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments El Medicines Patent Pool y la compañía farmacéutica Gilead Sciences ha anunciado hoy un acuerdo de licencia para permitir la producción medicamentos clave para el combate contra el VIH a un menor costo y en una formulación más fácil de usar, haciéndolos más accesibles a los países en desarrollo.. El acuerdo se extiende al uso de tratamientos para la hepatitis B por primera vez.
Does Introduction Of A Utility Model Protection Regime Make Sense In India? 13/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments India has at least seven diverse intellectual property (IP) legislations related to protection already in place. Its focus should therefore arguably be directed – along the lines of many other IP jurisdictions – on more stringent enforcement modus operandi of the IP rights. Is there scope for introducing yet another IP legislation – the utility model protection law – in the Indian IP landscape and if so, what should be its scope and implication, asks Swarup Kumar.
WIPO Seminar: IP Is Spearhead Of Agricultural Innovation, Solution To Food Shortage 28/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization recently stepped into the agriculture field with its first seminar on the use of intellectual property to increase productivity. In the seminar, proponents of IP rights defended the value of protection and the necessity of relying on technology to answer the needs of an inflated world population.
New FAO Chief Accepts GMOs, Not Seed Monopolies 27/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The newly elected head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization today expressed tolerance for genetically modified crops but not for monopolies on seeds.