Micro Entity Status For Universities And AIA Rulemaking On Power Of Attorney 15/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The authors write: “The US Patent and Trademark Office recently introduced a discounted “micro entity” rate on official fees for qualifying universities. Unfortunately, recent changes in the USPTO’s rules on applicants and powers of attorney hinders a qualifying university from benefiting from the micro entity discount. Here, we explain how the rules on micro entity status, applicants, and powers of attorney conflict with each other and offer suggestions for taking advantage of the micro entity discount without running afoul of the rule changes.”
Members Concerned Over WIPO 2014/2015 Programme, Budget; New Treaties On The Way 14/07/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization’s proposed programme and budget for the next biennium faced some tough questioning from the UN agency’s member states last week. Meanwhile, WIPO is anticipating a series of treaty negotiations in the next two years.
WIPO Copyright Meeting Postponed To December 13/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) that was scheduled for late July has been postponed until December.
EU, US Conclude First Round Of Trade Talks 12/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments During the first round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investement Partnership (TTIP), negotiators met with 350 stakeholders, briefed 260 stakeholders, published several press releases and invited an hour-long press conference.
US Subcommittee Examines Toxic Substances Control Act, IP Protection 11/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee today heard arguments for and against greater chemical regulation and trade secret protection in its review of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The hearing also examined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s role in regulation.
WHO Priority Medicines Report Sees Drop In R&D Productivity 11/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Decline in pharmaceutical research and development productivity is one of the main challenges addressed in the 2013 edition of the World Health Organization report, Priority Medicines for Europe and the World. Whether the decline in pharmaceutical R&D is due to R&D depletion, overly strict regulatory hurdles, or the current pharmaceutical business model remains unanswered.
EU High Court Upholds Private Copy Levies On First Sale Of Blank Media 11/07/2013 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Setting general private copying levies on the first sale of blank media such as CDs and DVDs does not necessarily breach EU law, Europe’s highest court said on 11 July. The law does not allow the levy to be collected where the intended use of the recording media clearly isn’t for making private copies. But it doesn’t bar a general levy system that includes the option of reimbursement where the intended use is not private copying, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) said.
GI Proponents Seek Recognition In New Internet Domains Programme At ICANN 11/07/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In the run-up to next week’s meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a lobby group promoting the recognition and the protection of geographical indications has sent a letter to ICANN requesting that better consideration be given to GI owners’ rights under ICANN’s programme of new domain names.
WTO Aid For Trade Review Looks At LDCs And Value Chains 10/07/2013 by Caitlin McGivern for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Trade, development and value chains were a subject of discussion at this week’s World Trade Organization 4th Global Review of Aid for Trade, an initiative that encourages developing country governments and donors to recognise the role that trade can play in development.
“Trilateral” Symposium Addresses Topics Of Global Public Health And IP 10/07/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The themes of innovation, collaboration, and policy coherence shared the spotlight during panel discussions at the 5 July technical symposium on Medical Innovation: Changing Business Models. The event was jointly hosted by the World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, and World Trade Organization.