WTO Members Discuss UN High-Level Report On Medicines Access That WHO Declined To Discuss 10/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee this week discussed the report of United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on access to medicines which offered recommendations regarding the use of intellectual property in international trade. Developing countries taking the floor accentuated the use of flexibilities under trade rules, and the World Health Organization gave an overview of how its activities follow the panel’s recommendations, and its future projects. Civil society meanwhile criticised the WHO’s decision to dismiss a request by some developing countries to include discussions on the UN report at the next Executive Board Meeting.
WTO TRIPS Council Ponders Regional Innovation Models, Other Issues 10/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This week at the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee a range of mostly developed countries requested to discuss regional innovation models, and countries presented examples of such models. The committee also addressed the issue of “non-violation” complaints and issues of biodiversity and trade, observers, and e-commerce.
Union Calls “Flash Demo” After EPO Fires Another Union Representative 07/11/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO) called a 7 November “flash” demonstration in Munich after the office fired Laurent Prunier, SUEPO secretary in The Hague. The move dismayed employees encouraged after the Administrative Council (AC), made up of the office’s member states, last month pressured President Benoît Battistelli into backing off from two unpopular proposals for investigating and disciplining staff.
EU Commission Says Plants And Animals From Conventional Processes Not Patentable 04/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The European Commission has issued its opinion on certain articles of the EU directive on biotechnological inventions, in particular the patentability of plants or animals obtained as a result of natural occurrence such as selection and crossing. The Commission found that the intention of the EU when drafting the legislation was to exclude such products from patentability.
WIPO’s New Tool: Complex Patents Now Easily Translated 02/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has developed a ground-breaking new “artificial intelligence”-based translation tool for patent documents, according to the organisation.
More Rigorous Patent Examination In US Than Europe And Australia? 02/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A recently published study finds that, contrary to a conventional view, the United States Patent and Trademark Office undertakes more rigorous patent examination than the European Patent Office and the Australian Patent Office.
Poland To Simplify Patent Procedures, Amend Patent Attorney Law 28/10/2016 by Jaroslaw Adamowski for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development has announced it is developing a package of 11 executive ordinances – of which nine are yet to be signed by the minister – to improve the procedures for obtaining trademarks and contacting the Polish Patent Office, reduce the costs of registering and protecting trademarks and industrial designs, and facilitate these procedures for small- and medium-size companies.
High Quality Patents Could Keep Patent Trolls In Check In Europe, EU Report Finds 27/10/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new report by respected economists under the European Commission has found that problems of patent assertion entities in Europe could be better controlled if patent quality stays high in the region. It also found that the majority of patent assertion entities in Europe have focused on vulnerable targets – mainly in the telecommunications sector – and the report provides significant research on such entities operating in the European Union. The findings shine light on the key role of standard essential patents, with suggestions for policymakers and predictions about the impact of the prospective changes to the European patent system.
Antimicrobial Resistance Should Not Overshadow Broader Issue Of Access To Medicines, Some Say 26/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment While the issue of antimicrobial resistance has arrived in high-level discussions, and there is a consensus that the problem must be tackled one way or another to avoid slipping back into a pre-antibiotic era, some voices are highlighting the need to remember that other health issues remain unmet, and access to medicines is still an acute problem.
Antimicrobial Resistance Needs Research, Regulation, Speakers Say 26/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The issue of antimicrobial resistance has been in the spotlight in recent months as a growing awareness of the threat it represents for humanity has pushed discussions at the multilateral level. This week, the World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization and World Trade Organization organised a symposium on the subject. Speakers discussed needs and potential solutions.