US Watchdog Weighs Role Of Non-Practising Entities In Patent Litigation 23/08/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In an attempt to clarify the role of non-practising entities in patent infringement lawsuits, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) yesterday released a new report highlighting major trends in patent litigation activities in the US.
Medicines Patent Pool, Roche Strike HIV-Related Medicine Pricing Agreement 05/08/2013 by Kelly Burke for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Medicines Patent Pool today announced an agreement with Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche to increase access and reduce the cost of a medicine that treats a viral infection in people with weakened immune systems, specifically for people living with HIV.
Concerns Raised Over Potential Threat of Investment Agreements 25/07/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Investor agreements, included in many bilateral investment treaties (BITs), are a source of growing concern for many national governments. These agreements essentially leave countries vulnerable to litigation by individual firms, rather than other countries, as is the case in traditional World Trade Organization disputes.
Report Challenges Assumptions On IP Valuation And Cybercrime 23/07/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report released in the United States assesses assumptions and seeks to spark new thinking on the economic impact of cybercrime and cyberespionage, including the valuation and losses of intellectual property.
WTO: Technology, Emerging Economies, Demographics – Drivers Of Change In World Trade 22/07/2013 by Caitlin McGivern for Intellectual Property Watch and Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The landscape and nature of world trade are changing, and quickly, according to the latest World Trade Report published by the World Trade Organization. Technological innovation, shifts in production and consumption patterns, and demographic change are said to be the primary factors that will shape the future of world trade and the global trading system, the report found.
Report Seeks To Advance Discussions On Shared Traditional Knowledge 22/07/2013 by Alessandro Marongiu for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report from the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) proposes solutions to advancing the global debate on the protection of traditional knowledge shared among different indigenous communities.
Micro Entity Status For Universities And AIA Rulemaking On Power Of Attorney 15/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The authors write: “The US Patent and Trademark Office recently introduced a discounted “micro entity” rate on official fees for qualifying universities. Unfortunately, recent changes in the USPTO’s rules on applicants and powers of attorney hinders a qualifying university from benefiting from the micro entity discount. Here, we explain how the rules on micro entity status, applicants, and powers of attorney conflict with each other and offer suggestions for taking advantage of the micro entity discount without running afoul of the rule changes.”
Panel Discusses Role Of ECOSOC In The UN’s Post-2015 Goals 09/07/2013 by Caitlin McGivern for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The contribution the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) can make to the formation of a post-2015 UN development agenda was at the centre of a thematic debate in Geneva last week. The agenda, to be developed by the General Assembly, is expected to include issues such as innovation, public health and the transfer of technology.
WHO, WTO, WIPO Heads Call For More Medical Innovation 08/07/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The leaders of three top international organisations in Geneva last week discussed synergies in public health and called for increased collaboration and creativity to move medical innovation out of its quagmire of inefficiency. The opening session was marked by the head of the World Health Organization urging stakeholders to develop mechanisms to separate drug prices from costs of research and development. And the head of the GAVI Alliance, in the keynote address, discussed how patent thickets could impede access to vaccines.
Special Feature: A Look At Product Development Partnerships And Innovation For Neglected Diseases 03/07/2013 by Tiphaine Nunzia Caulier for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An analysis of available information indicates that research-oriented product development partnerships (PDPs) are seen as providing a better approach to neglected diseases than most other public-private partnerships. Yet, in spite of many positive results, PDPs still have a limited impact in developing countries.