Monsanto v. Bowman: Stocktaking After Supreme Court Hearings 05/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The United States Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the case opposing a US farmer to agro-industry giant Monsanto on the issue of patent exhaustion in patented seeds. Lead lawyers in the case and others offered comments on the heels of the hearing, while the Supreme Court Justices are considering the arguments and are expected to reach a decision sometime this spring.
Coalition Asks US Congress For Action On “Patent Trolls” 28/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In an open letter to the US Congress House of Representatives Judiciary Committee today (27 February), a coalition of agencies, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators, urged Congress to take action against “patent trolls, non-practicing patent-holding entities.
European Copyright Reform On Slow Track, Observers Say 27/02/2013 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European talks aimed at dragging copyright law into the digital age are not likely to produce results any time soon because of resistance from rights holders and political manoeuvring in the European Commission, players from the internet service provider and consumer sectors say. But the Commission said while it’s true that changes could take several years, there will be regulation if needed.
Recording Industry Sees New “Buzz” From Digital Revenues 27/02/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The major recording industry association has released its annual report for 2012, announcing a 9 per cent increase in revenues from digital sales of music, with licensed music services on the rise. It also said it benefits most in countries where internet service providers have worked to drive down use of unauthorised music download sites.
Obama Administration Announces New Open Access Policy 26/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has issued a new policy memorandum increasing public access to federally funded scientific research, including peer-reviewed publications and digital data.
Google’s Anti-Piracy Measures Not Enough, Recording Industry Says 21/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) today in a report accused Google of not doing enough to stop Internet users from accessing websites repeatedly accused of copyright infringement.
WIPO Treaty For The Blind: Rightsholders Seek Safeguards, Civil Society Seeks Real Access 21/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments While country delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization are working to find consensus on a text to become a treaty for the benefit of blind and visually impaired people, industry and non-governmental organisations are pushing their agendas.
Indian Users’ Perspective On WIPO Negotiations On Treaty For Visually Impaired 16/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment South-East Asia is host to one-third of the world’s 39 million blind people. Over 20 million live in India alone. This week’s special session of the World Intellectual Property Organization aims to clean up the text of an international treaty to facilitate access to books for the blind and visually impaired community. It is thus of prime importance for India, and some there worry that issues such as commercial availability could undermine the treaty’s effectiveness.
Event Explains Partnerships In Natural Products Research Through Thai Experience With Novartis 13/02/2013 by Tiphaine Nunzia Caulier for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Alongside the World Intellectual Property Organization meeting on protection of genetic resources last week, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) organised a side event on natural product research.
Letter Shows US Pressure On Global Fund For Compulsory Licensing, Generics 12/02/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A 2011 letter from the top Republican on the United States Senate Finance Committee condemned efforts by the Global Fund to train public health officials on the use of flexibilities to the patent system contained in international trade rules. The letter, which also attacked the purchase of generic medicines over brand-name drugs, came just months before the US helped remove the head of the Global Fund, ultimately replacing him with an American official.