Future Scenarios, IP Tax Evasion, Informal Sector, And Patents In Africa 13/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – A conference here on intellectual property, innovation and the public interest included a look at different possible futures for Africa, global IP tax evasion schemes, a discussion of the strong informal sector, and some views on the relative weakness of patent quality on the continent.
WIPO Members Progress, But New Offices, Design Treaty Still Unresolved 12/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After adopting the 2014-2015 program and budget yesterday, World Intellectual Property Organization member countries yesterday agreed on some pending issues but so far have not got agreement on principles for future WIPO offices worldwide nor a commitment to finish a treaty on the international registration of industrial designs.
Convergence Of Who’s Who In IP, Innovation, Public Interest In Africa 12/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Academics, advocates, lawyers, government officials and others meeting this week have heard of the launch of several new books and research tools to better understand the relationship of intellectual property, development and social issues. In particular, discussion in the early part of the conference focussed on a book revealing evidence from extensive primary research on the ground in 13 countries across the continent.
Michelle Lee Named USPTO Deputy Director, Will Serve As Acting Director 11/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker today announced Michelle K. Lee as the next deputy director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), starting in January. In the absence of a director at USPTO, she will also serve as acting director.
WIPO Agrees To 2014-2015 Programme And Budget After Discussion On External Offices 10/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In the nick of time, the World Intellectual Property Organization has agreed on a budget for the new biennium – which starts in three weeks.
Statement From TPP Ministers Shows Agreement May Be Near 10/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Trade ministers of the 12 countries negotiating a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) today issued a statement signalling a breakthrough on the treaty, but lacking specifics.
Leaked Documents Show Tough Road To Completion Of TPP 10/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The far-reaching Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement may be even more ambitious than previously thought. A newly leaked alleged recent memorandum and chart giving a rare view of country positions from inside the closed negotiating room showed the 12 countries to be far apart on many issues, especially intellectual property rights, heading into this week’s talks in Singapore. And they suggest the United States is facing pushback to its vigorous efforts to get those differences resolved quickly.
Despite Global Economic Gloom, IP Registration Boomed In 2012 09/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment China is on top again – for rapid growth in intellectual property filings. Defying global economic turmoil, the big headline from the 2013 World Intellectual Property Indicators released today, shows that China topped the charts when compared to other countries in term of patent and trademark filings last year. But the report, produced by the World Intellectual Property Organization, indicated good news for other countries and IP as well; patent filings overall grew by 9.2 percent last year – the fastest growth in the last 18 years.
Revised WIPO Treaty On Appellations Of Origin On Course, Chair Says 09/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of an international treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization protecting appellations of origin last week worked on a draft treaty revision, which now includes geographical indications. Treaty signatories aim to hold a high-level negotiation in 2015 to approve the revision. Meanwhile, countries which do not use geographical indications have voiced concerns about the proposed revision.
Panel: Protection Of Handicrafts Gains Global Interest; Challenges Persist In The South 09/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the side of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting last week working to revise a treaty protecting appellations of origin and soon to include geographical indication, a private-sector seminar was organised in the hope of generating economic interest in non-agricultural geographical indications.