US Industry Campaign: IP Needed To Address Climate Change, Economy 02/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Intellectual property rights are a key to innovation, the mitigation of climate change, an incentive to spur the economy and a creator of jobs, according to participants in several recent industry events and activities.
Regulators’ Role Seen Rising As E-Content Tied To Devices 29/09/2009 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments When Amazon.com remotely deleted George Orwell’s “1984″ and “Animal Farm” from its Kindle e-books, it stirred up a hornet’s nest of complaints about privacy, the potential erosion of copyright users’ rights and censorship. Is the shift to “tethered devices” a real cause for concern or much ado about nothing?
Brimelow Stresses Need For Better Patent System; Discusses Harmonisation 17/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The way the patent system is currently structured rewards slowness and low quality, but the needed changes will have to include a new revenue model, a top European patent official said today.
New EU Communication On Increased IP Enforcement 14/09/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The European Commission Trade Directorate today adopted a “communication on enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights” within the European Union internal market that aims at greater coordination but stops short of new legislative measures.
Brevetage des gènes: la résistance se renforce aux Etats-Unis et en Europe 14/09/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment L’action en justice intentée récemment contre le Bureau américain des brevets et des marques de commerce par une entreprise de biotechnologie et une fondation concernant des brevets sur les gènes associés au cancer a permis d’attirer l’attention de l’opinion internationale sur la question du brevetage des gènes humains, une pratique contre laquelle un groupe d’associations influentes a exprimé son opposition le 27 août.
‘Positive Noises’ On Resuming Talks On WIPO Audiovisual Performances Treaty 09/09/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization this week may have witnessed the beginnings of a resumption of high-level negotiations on an international treaty on the protection of audiovisual performances.
Gene Patenting In Question In The US, EU; New Resistance Effort 02/09/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A recent lawsuit involving patents on human genes related to cancer brought against the United States patent office, a biotechnology company and a foundation has attracted international attention to the issue of gene patenting, and on 27 August a group of influential associations voiced their opposition to such patents.
EU Report Finds Fault With US Barriers To IP 27/07/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The European Commission on Monday released a report finding fault with a number of United States practices related to intellectual property rights policy, on copyright, geographical indications, trademarks and patents. The report is an answer, one might say, to the US Special 301 report that criticises US trading partners it deems unilaterally to be insufficiently protecting its companies’ IP rights.
Innovation Policy Needs National Focus, Use Of TRIPS Obligations, Panellists Say 20/07/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Innovation is a main driver for economic growth and development for developing countries, said speakers at an event focusing on innovation in Brazil, India and South Africa. But although innovation is increasing and is a priority in developing economies, one expert said invention capabilities remain in the hands of historical players and governments need to seek innovative policy responses.
Life-Saving Mosquito Nets Subject Of Tiff Over Trade Secrets 17/07/2009 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment COPENHAGEN – While sales of insecticide-treated bed nets have skyrocketed in recent years and boosting their use is among the UN Millennium Development Goals, two producers of the nets have been caught in a rigorous legal case involving trade secrets. Now the English High Court has ruled that one of the companies, Bestnet, has misused the trade secrets of the other company, Vestergaard Frandsen (VF).