WIPO: IP Policy Moves To Forefront Of Global Innovation 15/11/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has released its first report in what is expected to be a series of publications seeking to explain, clarify and contribute to policy relating to intellectual property. Its debut report, WIPO presented figures that show a growing global demand for patents, a soaring increase in licensing and royalty fees revenues, and an increase in low and middle-income economies’ share of global spending on research and development.
WIPO Development Committee Kicks Off With Compromise 15/11/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The eighth session of the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) opened this week with the close of its seventh session. Committee coordinators were still gathered in negotiations as the eighth session was due to begin on 14 November, hammering out a compromise on proposed meetings on South-South cooperation among developing countries.
Post-Grant Oppositions Under US Patent Reform 14/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment On September 16, 2012, the post-grant review process in the United States will change to closely resemble the opposition procedures in Europe even down to the same nine-month window after grant to oppose. With these new changes going into effect in less than a year, it is important for practitioners to use this time to become familiar with the new procedures and processes, writes Michael Siekman.
33 North American Institutions Sign Declaration On Open Access 13/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Thirty-three research institutions, associations and foundations in North America last week signed the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, committing to support open access research in the future. The signing brings the total signers to nearly 300, including many of the top research institutions in the world.
WIPO Audit/Evaluation Process Comes Of Age, With A Development Side 11/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Evaluation and auditing of the World Intellectual Property Organization gained increased interest a few years ago when rich member countries responsible for most of its revenues became alarmed about questions of financial and human resources management. But now the UN agency’s sometimes bumpy evaluation process is maturing, including a development aspect, and has a new external report on its global technical assistance programmes.
UNESCO Creates Fund For Budget Shortfall After US Withholds Dues 11/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has set up a fund for donations to support core activities after the United States withheld its dues equalling nearly a quarter of UNESCO’s budget. Already the agency has begun cutting programmes in developing countries, it said.
Russian WTO Accession Will Bring Powerhouse Under TRIPS Immediately 10/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization today announced that Russia and the WTO working party for its accession have come to agreement. The Russian Federation began negotiating to join the World Trade Organization before the WTO’s landmark agreement on intellectual property rights entered into force. Now, Russia will become party to the agreement upon joining the WTO.
Less Copyright Liability Found To Boost Cloud Computing Investment 09/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A new study by a Harvard business professor has found that protection against copyright liability increased investment in the cutting-edge technology of cloud computing.
CBO: Generics Bill Would Save US $4.8 Billion 09/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The US Congressional Budget Office has estimated that a current bill to prevent brand-name pharmaceutical companies from paying generic producers to delay the release of generic drugs into the market could save the US budget some $4.8 billion over 10 years. The bill would treat “pay-for-delay” arrangements as illegal and would give the authority to […]
The Mad Hatter In Wonderland: South Africa’s New TK Bill 08/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments So, the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) has finally gone ahead and done it. It has caused the South African Government to pass the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill (the so-called “Traditional Knowledge Bill”) despite vociferous objections from all quarters. It has rushed headlong into terrain where no angel would venture through acute trepidation. It has entered Wonderland and assumed the role of the Mad Hatter, writes Professor Owen Dean.