Changing Winds For Gene Patenting In the US? Stakeholders React To Draft Report 29/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A United States health department advisory group this month produced a new draft report on gene patenting and licensing with recommendations suggesting that excessive patenting can limit patients’ access to gene testing and might not foster genetic research. The recommendations were supported by a variety of health professionals but put the biotechnology industry on edge.
US Federal Circuit May Offer Patent, Tech Policy Guidance For High Court 23/10/2009 by Winter Casey for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeals should act more like a teacher to the Supreme Court and do a better job explaining its policy reasoning when it makes decisions on innovation-related cases, a top patent law academic said late Tuesday. If the Federal Circuit was clearer in how it landed at certain conclusions in patent disputes it might result in the Supreme Court opting to get involved in fewer patent cases, said Rochelle Dreyfuss, a professor at New York University School of Law.
French HADOPI Law, Now Complete, Can Brandish Its Weapons 23/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The French Constitutional Council yesterday gave its ruling about the constitutionality of a French bill aiming to protect literary and artistic intellectual property rights online, and decided that the bill was in conformity with the French Constitution, asking only for a minor amendment, according to the Council ruling available here (in French). The legislation, nicknamed […]
Kappos’ Early Days At USPTO: Many Changes, Few Funds 23/10/2009 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Reform of the United States patent system, better patent quality and greater international cooperation among patent offices are just a few of the jobs new United States Patent and Trademark Office chief David Kappos has on his plate.
Perpetual Protection Of Traditional Knowledge “Not On Table” At WIPO 22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Protection of traditional knowledge under intellectual property rights may have a time limit, though determining duration of protection measures will be more difficult than it is with Western scientific innovation, World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry said yesterday.
Disagreements Remain In WHO Talks On Virus-Sharing After Chan Proposal 22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization members this week offered views on the global system for virus- and benefit-sharing for pandemic influenza following recently proposed solutions by Director General Margaret Chan aimed at changing the current, ad-hoc model to a more predictable, sustainably-funded system.
Advocates Warn Against ‘Monsantosizing’ Of Global Food Sources 21/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food prepares to present his report today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a global appeal is being filed by farmers and environmental organisations against patents on plants and animals derived from conventional breeding.
Spurring Local Innovation In Africa By Improving Access To Information 19/10/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment Greater awareness of the existence of open access information resources for innovation and making the information easily accessible and relevant to developing country users could help spur innovation in these countries, according to top technical assistance providers and local innovators.
Panel Calls For An Ethical Framework For IP And Climate Change 16/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments BANGKOK – Normal negotiation strategy is unlikely to result in an impact on climate change, since the most important stakeholders in fighting it – not yet born – have no seat at the negotiating tables, said a panel last week in Bangkok. An ethical approach is a better way to achieve results, speakers said, and an ethical take on intellectual property rights and alternative forms of innovation may have a place in new climate-friendly economic models.
European Union Prepares A New Intellectual Property Rights Strategy 15/10/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments Intellectual property rights and their protection will be high on the agenda of the European institutions in the upcoming legislature, representatives from the European Commission, European Council and the European Parliament said at the first European Innovation Summit in Brussels yesterday. Stronger IP rights (IPR) protection was declared by representatives of all three institutions as indispensable to promote innovation and the knowledge society, while only a few voices were raised asking not to overreach in IPR regulation.