WIPO Members Favour Library Exceptions, But By Different Means 02/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee this week has sunk its teeth into the issue of exceptions and limitations to copyright for libraries and archives. Some countries are pushing for a treaty to establish such exceptions while others find that the existing copyright system provides for it.
UNCTAD Review Of Bangladesh Calls For Drug Market Opening 01/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An investment policy review undertaken by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) found that Bangladesh needs to attract foreign direct investment to sustain its development and suggests that the country loosen its grip on the pharmaceutical sector. Bangladesh said the review will be carefully considered.
Soft Law Presented At WIPO As A Solution In International Copyright Law 01/05/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A presentation of the Tunis Model Law this week at a World Intellectual Property Organization side event addressed how it could be updated and used as a tool to help developing countries implement new developments in international copyright-related law.
Consensus On Principles Difficult To Bake Into Two-Day NetMundial 24/04/2014 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Consensus on the outcome document seemed elusive on day one of the NetMundial meeting that started in Sao Paulo yesterday. But ambitions are high for many.
20 Years Of TRIPS: Max Planck Launches Declaration On Patent Protection 16/04/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition has launched a Declaration on Patent Protection with the aim to “clarify some of the regulatory options states still retain under international law, in particular the TRIPS Agreement,” which turns 20 years old this year.
UPOV Approves ARIPO Draft Legislation Spreading Plant Variety Protection To Africa 15/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The African Regional Intellectual Property Office last week obtained a positive decision at the international level on its draft law to protect new varieties of plants. Amid protest from civil society, the regional office now has to adopt the draft law and has said it would convene a diplomatic conference (high-level negotiation) in 2014 in order to do so.
Geneva Health Forum Meets To Discuss Solutions To Common Problems 11/04/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Geneva Health Forum (GHF), taking place on 15-17 April in Geneva, will discuss the theme “Global Health: Interconnected Challenges, Integrated Solutions.” This year’s forum aims to encourage an “integrative approach” to global health, “which better captures the underlying causes of ill-health and recognises the commonalities that underlie people’s health around the world,” says GHF.
East African Community Moves To Harmonise IP Rights Regulation 11/04/2014 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments KAMPALA – As the East African Community nears full revival, a bloc market covering five countries with a population of about 145 million people has emerged. But the member countries face another challenge: they have different levels of intellectual property rights protection.
UPOV To Examine ARIPO Legislation On Plant Variety Protection 08/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Several committees of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) will meet this week. One of them is called to assess a draft legal framework on plant variety protection from the African Regional Intellectual Property Office (ARIPO). The draft legislation has drawn ire from civil society who charge that it is detrimental to small farmers and who argue that ARIPO does not have legitimacy to become a UPOV member.
New South Africa IP Policy Unlikely Before May Elections 08/04/2014 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment South Africa’s upcoming general elections on 7 May have thrown a spanner in the works of the much-anticipated national draft intellectual property policy from coming into effect anytime soon.