US Gives Boost To Materials Genome Initiative 24/06/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Obama administration and academic and industry partners today announced their commitment to support the Materials Genome Initiative (MGI), a public-private endeavor whose aim is to reduce the time required to develop novel materials that can “fuel advanced manufacturing and bolster the 21st century American economy.”
South Africa A Leader In Renewable Energy, Lagging In IP Rights 24/06/2013 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Leader of the newly formed Renewables Club and rated as a world leader in the green energy race, South Africa has done little to secure this advantage with intellectual property rights of its own.
WIPO Negotiators Reach Breakthrough On “3-Step Test” In Treaty For Blind 24/06/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 11 Comments Marrakesh, Morocco – A breakthrough was reached over the weekend in the World Intellectual Property Organization negotiations to provide more access to visually impaired people, according to participating sources. Agreement appears to have been struck on the controversial issue of restrictions to the exceptions to copyright that the treaty is proposing to establish.
WHO Restructures Medicines Department, Including Innovation, Policy 24/06/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This summer through September, a restructuring is taking place under the World Health Organization Health Systems and Innovation cluster that has relevance for intellectual property and innovation issues.
WIPO Economics Working Paper On Mobility Of Inventors 21/06/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Central American, Caribbean, and African economies have the most “inventor brain drain” in relation to the number of home country inventors, according to a recent working paper released by the World Intellectual Property Organization. Data for the study included information on inventor nationality and residence available in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications.
WIPO Negotiators Urged To Speed Up, As Musician Stevie Wonder Steps Up 21/06/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Pop star Stevie Wonder was a surprise guest this morning at the plenary session of the World Intellectual Property Organization diplomatic conference in Marrakesh concocting a treaty to facilitate access for blind people to books. The president of the diplomatic conference also exhorted delegates to bridge gaps and reach consensus.
UNICEF Supply Annual Report Highlights Medical Products Access, Innovation 21/06/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In its recently released Supply Annual Report for 2012, the United Nations agency UNICEF assessed its programme work in developing and strengthening supply chains, in hopes of achieving equitable access to life-saving supplies for children and women. The report found that UNICEF procured supplies and services valued at $2.468 billion, with India being the largest supplier country to UNICEF in 2012.
Members Of US Congress Seek Pressure On India Over IP Rights 20/06/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A large portion of the United States Congress this week signed on to a letter to President Obama criticising India for its treatment of intellectual property rights.
Visually Impaired, Civil Society, Industry Defend Their Stakes In Marrakesh 20/06/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This week’s World Intellectual Property Organization Marrakesh Diplomatic Conference, anticipated to deliver an international treaty allowing visually impaired people wider access to books, is also an arena where different stakeholders hope to influence the debate. Civil society calls for a practical treaty that really works on the ground, while industry insists that safeguards to protect the integrity of the international copyright laws be included in the treaty.
WIPO VIP Treaty: Opening Statements Lay Out Differences 20/06/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Displays of good intentions peppered the two first days of World Intellectual Property Organization negotiations on treaty facilitating access to books for visually impaired people. However, countries pleading for flexibility reaffirmed their previous positions. Developed countries seeking to preserve the international copyright system, and developing countries assuring that the treaty is not jeopardising this system.