First Innovation Fair Hosted At WTO, Draws Diverse Projects With IP In Mind 29/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization hosted an Innovation Fair on 28 October, gathering inventors, supporting agencies, and patent offices. A number of inventions were displayed and explained, from concrete walls to motorisation for bicycles.
USPTO Director-Nominee Lee Calls For ‘Responsible Stewardship’ Of Patent System 23/10/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In perhaps her first big speech since being nominated by President Obama to head the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Michelle Lee today told an industry meeting today to use the patent system responsibly and with balance. The agency is embarking on a new global effort to streamline processes and improve quality. And for the first time in a long time, she said, USPTO has the financial resources to do it.
Life Sciences Stakeholders Assess Accessing Emerging Markets 23/10/2014 by Magda Voltolini for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment PARIS –Life sciences stakeholders at a recent conference explored matters associated with market access in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and in the Middle East and North Africa regions.
Little-Known Case May Dramatically Change US Patent System 22/10/2014 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The patent case recently argued before the US Supreme Court is relatively unknown, and for good reason. It involves no exciting new technology. It has no controversial patent claims (e.g., covering human genes). However, Teva Pharms. USA v. Sandoz, Inc. could produce major changes in America’s patent system.
TRIPS Council Next Week: Tobacco, Innovation, Non-Violations, Public Health Review 22/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The next meeting of the World Trade Organization Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is scheduled to take place on 28-29 October. In addition to the regular agenda items of the Council, two additional agenda items have been submitted by members, relating to tobacco plain packaging and innovation. Image Credits: Catherine Saez
UPOV Meetings Conclude With New Observers; Tanzania Can Become UPOV Member 22/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The international body protecting new varieties of plants concluded a week-long set of meetings with a number of decisions, among which was the re-appointment of its secretary general, and the addition of an international organisation and a farmers’ organisation as observers. The national legislation on plant breeders of Zanzibar was approved, opening the way for Tanzania to become a UPOV member.
USTR’s Investigations On IP Rights Against India: Is There A Tenable Case? 20/10/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments On 14 October, the US Trade Representative (USTR) began the out-of-cycle review (OCR) of India’s intellectual property (IP) laws, the mandate which it gave itself in the 2014 Special 301 Report. Like several years in the past, the USTR once again included India in the Priority Watch List, but this time, India’s IP laws are being subjected to the additional scrutiny through an OCR. It is to be seen whether the OCR sets the stage for naming India as a Priority Foreign Country, viewed by the USTR as worst offender of intellectual property rights, in the next Special 301 report. USTR’s inclusion of India for the OCR was a reflection of the influence that the domestic lobbies have on the country’s engagement with its partner countries, and about USTR’s consistency with World Trade Organization rules, writes Biswajit Dhar.
UNCTAD Forum: Local Drug Manufacturing A Key To Universal Health Coverage 16/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Local production of medicines in developing countries is key to advancing universal health coverage, but other factors need to be considered, such as the involvement of all stakeholders and policy coherence in governments, according to speakers attending the World Investment Forum this week. Several speakers called for a paradigm shift in global health.
IT Innovation Supporting Home-Grown Solutions In Uganda 15/10/2014 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment With the world’s youngest population, fast-rising access to internet and rapid spread of the use of mobile phones, Ugandans are starting to embrace information and communication technology innovations. This is confirmed by the increasing number of mobile and web applications with working prototypes developed in the country.
IP Increasingly Seen As Enabler For Innovation Finance, IP Offices Say 08/10/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment “Intellectual property is a substantial chunk of business investment,” Tony Clayton, chief economist in the United Kingdom IP Office, told a side gathering at the recent World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly. “It really does matter.”