Panel: Protection Of Handicrafts Gains Global Interest; Challenges Persist In The South 09/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the side of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting last week working to revise a treaty protecting appellations of origin and soon to include geographical indication, a private-sector seminar was organised in the hope of generating economic interest in non-agricultural geographical indications.
Candidates From Australia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Vie For WIPO Director Seat 06/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The names are in: four candidates will compete to be the next director general of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization. In addition to Australia’s nomination of incumbent Francis Gurry to lead for a second term, Nigeria, Panama, and at the last minute, Estonia, submitted names.
Study: EU Citizens Value IP, Yet Find Some Infringement Acceptable 04/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Union Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market (OHIM) has released a study showing that most EU citizens are aware of and value intellectual property, but about a third of them find infringement acceptable in certain circumstances.
WTO: Bali Package Still Not Close Enough; TRIPS Issue Likely To Be Agreed 03/12/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Even for the “low-hanging fruit,” the 125 ministers gathered in Bali at this week’s World Trade Organization Ninth Ministerial Conference will have to work hard. After talks on food security and subsidisation broke down last week in Geneva, the WTO has rearranged the agenda to allow more space for ministers to engage in direct negotiations, WTO Spokesman Keith Rockwell said at a briefing on the eve of the event.
European Commission Floats Proposal To Stop Theft Of Trade Secrets 29/11/2013 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The rise of cybercrime and industrial espionage, including alleged economic spying by the US National Security Agency, calls for a pan-European system to protect trade secrets, the European Commission said on 27 November. A recent survey showed that one in five European companies has suffered at least one attempt to steal its trade secrets in the past 10 years, the EC said, and the numbers are rising. It proposed legislation to safeguard undisclosed know-how and business information against unlawful theft and abuse. Industry generally hailed the proposal, though one law firm said it lacks some enforcement teeth.
Critical Moment For Africa’s Small Farmers As ARIPO Decides On Plant Variety Protection 28/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) this week was expected to consider a proposal to move toward a biotechnology-friendly future, but small farmers say the current proposal will damage their ability to exist in the those countries.
EU Commissioner Defends Investor-State Provisions; NGOs Propose “Alternative Trade Mandate” 28/11/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments European Union Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht today (27 November) defended the inclusion of an investor-state dispute settlement provision in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). De Gucht argued the out-of-court settlements allowing private sector to sue governments were necessary because the TTIP would not per se give EU companies a standing in US courts.
US Supreme Court Questions America’s Power To Carry Out Treaties 26/11/2013 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On 5 November, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that could undermine America’s ability to carry out its treaty obligations. The case casts a shadow over the country’s power to implement a wide variety of international agreements, including trade and intellectual property agreements.
International Organisations, Industry, Launch Campaign Against Fake Medicines 26/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Ten global health organisations today launched “Fight the Fakes,” a global campaign against “fake” medicines, aimed at raising awareness about medicines – brand or generic – that are not what they claim to be. Meanwhile, a Swiss pharmaceutical company official was named head of investigations at a top international public health organisation.
Global Patent Harmonisation Proceeding Outside WIPO – And Gently Within 25/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For years, the developed countries that own the vast majority of the world’s patents – and therefore pay the majority of the revenues of the World Intellectual Property Organization – have looked unsuccessfully for a way to increase harmonisation of the global patent system through the UN agency. Developed countries have moved forward on their own, while WIPO is taking a gentle approach, encouraging member states “look below the headline issue” to a more “granular” level.