Mexican IP Office Hopes To Persuade Senate On ACTA 15/07/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Mexican Intellectual Property Office (IMPI) last week announced that the Mexican Ambassador in Japan had signed the much debated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Now it thinks it can persuade the country’s new Senate to pass it.
WIPO Folklore Talks Headed To Assembly; Treaty Negotiation Unlikely In 2013 13/07/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization committee addressing protection of traditional cultural expressions (folklore) concluded a weeklong meeting today with progress on a draft text but doubts about moving to a high-level diplomatic conference in 2013, according to participants. The issue now moves to the annual WIPO General Assembly in October, where some said the debate may become more heated.
Hard Times Ahead For Rights Holders? IPR High On Brussels Agenda Before Recess 13/07/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments At a little-publicised annual meeting of the Transatlantic Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Working Group in Brussels this week representatives of the European Commission, several United States agencies and rights holder agreed that there might be tough times ahead for IPRs and rights holders. Meanwhile, the Commission is under pressure on copyright exceptions for visually impaired readers on the eve of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting. And the Commission this week introduced new rules on collective societies aimed at easing user access to content.
WIPO Governments Push On New Folklore Treaty Text; Indigenous Peoples Disappointed 13/07/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments After a late start, delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization today are trying to make up for lost time in an attempt to draft a potential treaty text to protect traditional cultural expressions on the last day of a weeklong meeting. The first revision of draft articles was issued yesterday at the end of the afternoon. The status of Indigenous Peoples was also examined by delegates the day before without much interest.
EU Parliament ACTA Rejection Last Nail In ACTA Coffin For Mexico? 10/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The recent rejection of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement by the European Parliament was “fundamental” from the perspective of some negotiating partners, and may have proved fatal for the agreement in Mexico, according to an observer.
Traditional Cultural Expressions Talks Back On Track At WIPO 10/07/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization today finally adopted the agenda of the 22nd session of the Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), and started work. But not before being sharply reminded of their duty in representing the public.
New CBD Head: IPR Still Key To Nagoya Protocol On Access And Benefit-Sharing 10/07/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NEW DELHI – The “Nagoya Protocol,” an international agreement struck in the Japanese town of Nagoya in October 2010, has nearly 100 signatory countries, and is a major talking point in the international discourse on biodiversity. But ratification by the governments of these countries remains painfully slow, and the process towards it fraught with daunting challenges, as was evident last week during a key inter-governmental meeting in the Indian capital New Delhi. In an interview with Intellectual Property Watch, the new head of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity had much to say about intellectual property rights.
European Parliament Rejection Puts ACTA Future In Doubt 04/07/2012 by William New and Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 20 Comments Today’s overwhelming defeat of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) by the European Parliament could have a resounding effect on the treaty’s prospects for survival, according to sources. Meanwhile, public interest groups are celebrating and copyright holders fuming.
EU Trade Commissioner Makes Last Appeal For Delay Of ACTA Vote 03/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment EU Trade Commissioner Karl De Gucht today made a last appeal to the European Parliament today to delay the decision on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) in order to allow the European Court of Justice to give its opinion. But he met with strong indications that a rejection of the controversial agreement may be coming tomorrow.
Nagoya Protocol Access & Benefit-Sharing Meeting Kicks Off In New Delhi 03/07/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A key committee of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing treaty aimed at ensuring fair sharing of the benefits of genetic resources is meeting this week in New Delhi.