WIPO To Hold Conference On Open Innovation 22/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization will hold a conference in January on open innovation and the future of knowledge, featuring some surprising speakers.
Once More, US Supreme Court Will Review Software Patents 20/12/2013 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments When it comes to software-related inventions, US patent law is a confused mess. So it was no surprise that, in early December, the United States Supreme Court announced it would weigh in on the matter. The court granted certiorari in Alice Corporation v. CLS Bank in order to decide when software-related inventions are patentable subject matter. But given the complicated technology and the high court’s confusing precedents in this area, many experts fear that the ruling in Alice will bring little clarity to this area of the law.
Report: Patents On Water Technology On The Rise 20/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments A new private-sector report shows that after a downturn, patents on a range of technologies for water are back on the rise as companies are busy innovating around a basic human need and resource.
Another Look At Patents And Standards 20/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The new National Academies report on patents and standards is a landmark effort to shed light on the tensions between patents and standards in information and communications technology. Brian Kahin critiques the report and examines underlying problems that the report sidesteps.
WIPO Delegates Hear Concerns Of NGOs On Exceptions For Libraries 19/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment As World Intellectual Property Organization member states launched into discussions on exceptions and limitations to copyright for the benefit of libraries and archives this week, non-governmental organisations were given the opportunity to present their views on the issue. They delivered vibrant, sometimes contradictory, statements on the opportunity for a treaty to preserve exceptions in the international copyright system.
Swiss Group Finds Patent-Related Ethical Violations By Pharma Overseas 17/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Berne Declaration, a Swiss non-profit, has released results of investigations that found industry-sponsored offshore clinical drug trials in developing countries involve “multiple ethical violations,” a problem increased by the patent-based industry business model.
After Beijing And Marrakesh, WIPO Copyright Committee Feels The Pressure 17/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Expectations are high this week on the outcome of discussions of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on copyright. On the agenda is a potential new treaty protecting broadcasting organisations, and limitations and exceptions to copyright for libraries, archives, and education. In the mix is a new proposal by Japan to include computer networks in protected broadcasts.
KIPO, SIPO Sign Cooperation Agreement Including IP Transactions 16/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The intellectual property offices of Korea and China today announced they have signed a cooperation agreement on work-sharing, communication, and new areas of IP, including the commercial use of IP rights such as transactions involving patents.
Argentina Passes Open Access Act For Publicly Funded Research 16/12/2013 by Maximiliano Marzetti for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The Congress of Argentina recently passed a landmark law making publicly funded science and technology research publications free and open access.
Future Scenarios, IP Tax Evasion, Informal Sector, And Patents In Africa 13/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – A conference here on intellectual property, innovation and the public interest included a look at different possible futures for Africa, global IP tax evasion schemes, a discussion of the strong informal sector, and some views on the relative weakness of patent quality on the continent.