India Grants First Compulsory Licence, For Bayer Cancer Drug 12/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments In a move welcomed by many in the international community, India has granted an application, its first, from a homegrown generic drug maker to manufacture and sell a patented cancer drug under a compulsory licence.
A High-Level Collegium Calls For New Global Governance 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A collegium of scientists, philosophers and former heads of state launched an appeal yesterday in Geneva for world governance they called “Global Solidarity, Global Responsibility.”
Berlin Court Rules Facebook Violates User Rights 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The District Court of Berlin, Germany, yesterday ruled that user rights were violated by several parts of social media site Facebook’s general terms and conditions and by its “friendfinder” feature. With regard to copyright law, the automatic worldwide exploitation right granted by users clicking off the terms and conditions was invalid, the court ruled.
US Congressman Posts ACTA For Open Debate 07/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A United States congressional representative has posted the text of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to the internet and is calling for public comments out of the fear that the agreement will harm the open internet.
Internet Governance In 2012: Reaching New Heights Or Hitting A Wall 05/03/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment There will be more than 50 important meetings talking internet in 2012, and activists and government alike have started calling for streamlining or better cooperation and focus. Yet what might make 2012 a very notable year with regard to the politics of the net is not these meetings, but the rising storms blowing over the net regarding day to day internet politics. The preliminary stop of the un-beloved SOPA/PIPA legislation in the United States and the unexpected hesitation of Europe to sign the controversial ACTA agreement gave a first taste of a hot year in internet governance.
Novartis Before India’s Supreme Court: What’s Really At Stake? 02/03/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments As the Novartis Glivec patent case in India reaches the final phase of a long-running legal battle, there’s one point on which both the Swiss pharmaceutical company and its critics agree: the significance of this case goes far beyond the protection of a single medication.
Australian Tobacco Law May Head To WTO Dispute As TRIPS Council Meets 28/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization committee responsible for intellectual property issues today is meeting to address its usual list of topics with two recent additions of international interest. Countries negotiating the embattled Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and a country opposed to Australia’s public health law on tobacco packaging have added these to the agenda. Sources at the meeting say opponents of the tobacco law may be near to filing a dispute settlement case at the WTO.
‘Balanced’ Copyright: Not A Magic Solving Word 27/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments It was obviously a moment of some embarrassment for the US Department of Commerce and the World Intellectual Property Organisation.
ACTA Ratification Suspended In Europe, Awaits High Court Opinion 23/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Union’s progress of adopting the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiated last year has been suspended pending a ruling by Europe’s highest court, the European Trade Commissioner announced yesterday.
Indigenous Peoples Walk Out Of WIPO Committee On Genetic Resources 22/02/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The International Indigenous Forum, in an unprecedented collective move, decided yesterday to withdraw from the discussions of the WIPO Committee on Genetic Resources taking place from 14-22 February. The move calls into question the legitimacy of the negotiations.