Global Challenges, Opportunities Of Cryptocurrencies Such As Bitcoins 24/06/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could compete with national currencies in the long term, but still face many challenges, according to panellists at a recent event in Geneva. Furthermore, the blockchain technology – the open source software which underpins those cryptocurrencies – could have innovative applications in other sectors, including intellectual property protection, they said.
UK IP Crime Unit Preliminary Report On Activities 20/06/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment To coincide with the International IP Enforcement Summit held on 11-12 June in London, the United Kingdom (UK) Intellectual Property Crime Group produced a preliminary version of its annual report to showing actions taken by several organisations to fight counterfeiting products.
Bark But No Bite? Antigua Talks Tough On WTO Gambling Case, But No TRIPS Remedy 18/06/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda again had strong words today for the United States’ seeming incalcitrant refusal to change its law or pay up in a World Trade Organization case it lost for blocking the island’s online gambling business. But Antigua stopped short of any direct threat to use the weapon it was given by the WTO dispute settlement panel: to stop protecting US intellectual property rights in the amount of the damages.
New Paper On Common Issues In WIPO TK, Genetic Resources Talks 13/06/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge and genetic resources committee has circulated a draft paper on common issues in the negotiations, in hopes of bringing parties closer together ahead of the next committee meeting in July.
TRIPS Council Debates Non-Violations, Innovation, Green Tech Transfer 12/06/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Whether countries can bring intellectual property complaints against each other under the World Trade Organization even if they don’t violate WTO rules was a topic of debate this week, but could not be resolved.
US Proposal Seeks To Allow Non-Violation Cases Under TRIPS Agreement 11/06/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States confirmed its opposition to an indefinite extension of a moratorium shielding the World Trade Organization agreement on intellectual property from non-violation complaints through a paper presented to WTO members meeting today.
Fight The Fakes Campaign Grows, Now Includes Generics Companies 06/06/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Fight the Fakes campaign announced today the support of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association and 10 other new partners for its campaign to raise awareness worldwide about the dangers of fake medicines.
WIPO Chief Calls for Seamless, Global, Legal Digital Content Regime 06/06/2014 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments ATHENS – In what the representative of a major consumer group called a “big step,” World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry on 6 June called for development of a seamless, global, legal, digital content marketplace that could offer the chance to bridge seemingly intractable copyright issues. Speaking at a conference in Athens hosted by the Greek EU Presidency on copyright and Europe’s digital agenda, Gurry said the search for such a market should take the form of a dialogue that includes all stakeholders.
Innovation Hubs, Green Technology Transfer On Agenda Of TRIPS Council 06/06/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee will meet next week with some new issues on the agenda. Ecuador has requested the continuance of a discussion on the transfer of green technologies, and Taiwan and the United States have proposed an agenda item on innovation incubators.
CJEU Removes Threat Hanging Over Internet Users 06/06/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Thanks to the latest ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on a long-standing copyright case, millions of internet users across the EU can keep calm and carry on browsing websites.