‘Bound By Law’, 26 Lisbon Members Say No To Fully Open Diplomatic Conference On GIs 07/05/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The ambassadors of all but two members of a 28-member World Intellectual Property Organization-administered treaty protecting appellations of origin said in a letter yesterday that international law requires that only treaty members participate in next week’s negotiations to add geographical indications to the treaty.
Diplomatic Conference On Inclusion Of GIs In WIPO Treaty Kicks Off Next Week 07/05/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Geographical indications might gain stronger international protection through the amendment of a 28-member World Intellectual Property Organization-administered treaty protecting appellations of origin. The high-level negotiating meeting taking place next week will consider pending issues in hopes of completing the landmark change. Here is your guide to the issues.
United States Hopeful Lisbon Members Will Open Diplomatic Conference To All 07/05/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments During a press briefing today the United States said they still have hope that the 28 members of a World Intellectual Property Organization-administered treaty will let the whole WIPO membership participate in next week’s negotiations to amend that treaty. It said that the potential new treaty protecting appellations of origins and set to include geographical indications can impact the economies of many non-member countries.
Q&A With The EU On The Benefits Of Amending The Lisbon Agreement 05/05/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Next week, the 28 members of the Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization are expected to conduct a high-level negotiating meeting to agree on a new Act of the agreement. Major changes expected are the inclusion of geographical indications in the agreement, and the possibility for international organisations such as the European Union to become members of the revised agreement.
WIPO Members Demand Full Participation In GI Negotiations At WIPO 05/05/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment As the World Intellectual Property Organization prepares to host high-level negotiations next week to amend an agreement protecting appellations of origins to include geographical indications, a number of WIPO member states are asking that the whole WIPO membership be allowed to participate on an equal footing to the negotiations, not only the 28 members of the treaty.
A Cautious Welcome For South Africa’s Traditional Knowledge Legislation 29/04/2015 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment South Africa’s new indigenous knowledge systems legislation is being cautiously welcomed by commentators, expressing both hopes and concerns. And some are tying it to other intellectual property legislation in the country.
WIPO CDIP: New Proposals Rekindle Conversation On IP And Development 23/04/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Among the outstanding issues at the World Intellectual Property Organization is how WIPO committees report to the General Assembly on their implementation of the organisation’s Development Agenda Recommendations. At this week’s meeting on the issue, a new proposal submitted by Mexico attempts to breach differences.
Geographical Indications An Engine For Development, EU Panellists Say At WIPO 23/04/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Geographical indications can provide socio-economic benefits for developing countries, said speakers at a side event to the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) this week.
Industries Duelling For Attention Over GIs In Trade Deals 23/04/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The trade promotion authority (TPA), or fast-track, legislation proposed by three senators last week in the US Congress contains provisions that would reinforce the US position on limiting geographical indications in trade deals. At the same time, European-led industry groups held an event in Washington to highlight the advantages of GIs in trade deals.
Harmonised Filing System For Plant Variety Protection Discussed At UPOV 16/04/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An industry proposal calling for a harmonised procedure to simplify applications for new varieties of plants and heighten intellectual property protection stirred debate at the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) last month.