WIPO Committee Discusses Boosting Client-Patent Adviser Secrecy 01/02/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A key committee focused on patent law at the World Intellectual Property Organization in seeking to establish its new work programme last week discussed a proposal to better protect the confidentiality of information passed between patent advisers and their clients. But the meeting ended in no decision, and the issue is expected to come up again when the patent committee next meets in October 2010.
Global Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts Set To Rise Further 27/01/2010 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments NEW YORK – The problem of global counterfeiting has not diminished with the new year, experts said here yesterday, and 2010 promises to bring even more rampant intellectual property theft if countries do not do more to stem the problem. Some countries are mobilising to do just that.
2010 US Industry Group Priorities: Patent Reform, USPTO Funds, Genes, Green Tech 26/01/2010 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Along with a domestic agenda that includes patent reform and improving the efficiency of the US Patent and Trademark Office, the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) this year also is eyeing issues at the international level, such as genetic resources, environmental technologies and international patent harmonisation.
Year Ahead: Range Of IP Policy Issues May See Action In United States In 2010 21/01/2010 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment With the United States Congress attempting to wrap up healthcare – a move made more difficult after a Republican won a traditionally Democratic US Senate seat in January – issues such as tax increases for the nation’s largest financial institutions, energy reform and others may take centre stage. But that’s not to say there is not some room for intellectual property issues to be considered. Upcoming issues may include patent reform, biologic drugs, internet neutrality, enforcement, and performance rights.
Metaphors And Folk Devils — Google’s William Patry Talks About His New Book 17/12/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Google’s William Patry discusses copyright myths, misleading metaphors, fear of new technologies and outdated business models in a video interview.
Civil Society, Elected Officials Rally Behind UNITAID Patent Pool 14/12/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments This week’s consideration of an implementation plan for a medicines patent pool by the board of oversight body UNITAID stirred a stream of stakeholder letters from around the world.
US Government, Industry De-Emphasise Multilateral System In Enforcement Push 14/12/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Obama administration and industry groups like the Motion Picture Association of America continue to keep their policy focus squarely on protection and enforcement of IP assets, but in testimony to the US Congress last week made no mention of multilateral venues for advancing these interests through new policy instruments.
UNITAID Drug Patent Pool Implementation Hinges On Board 11/12/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Implementation of a United Nations-related patent pool initiative that independent reviewers say could save millions of lives (and dollars) is set to be approved next week by the initiative’s board, though some observers fear resistance from strong patent beneficiaries, such as the foundation run by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. A confidential report on the initiative prepared for board approval is expected to show multiple benefits to implementation of the pool, but also some concerns, according to informed sources.
Industry Intellectual Property Enforcers Named To New Posts 08/12/2009 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) today announced the appointment of a new director of intellectual property and trade, effective 7 December. Meanwhile, in the United States, new coordinator for IP enforcement has been cleared.
Microsoft Drafts Consumers In Fight Against Software Piracy: Carrot And Stick 06/12/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment US software giant Microsoft said Thursday that users globally have started to join the fight against software piracy by sending in over 150,000 reports about problems with fake Microsoft products over the last two years.