USTR Froman: FTAs A Way To Get Higher IP Standards Into Global Trade “Bloodstream” 31/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Trade Representative Michael Froman today said that bilateral and regional agreements offer a way to get higher standards in areas such as intellectual property rights protection “into the bloodstream” of the global trading system, when it is not possible to do it through multilateral agreements.
New Trans-Pacific Partnership Caucus In US Congress 30/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments A new caucus of supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement under negotiation was launched yesterday in the US Congress.
At IGF, Glimpses Of Future IP Governance Overshadowed By Mass Surveillance 28/10/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Away from traditional free trade agreement negotiations with secret chapters on stricter intellectual property protection, perceptions are slowly evolving about the need to make IP systems work better. One of 100+ sessions at the 8th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Bali, Indonesia last week featured “intellectual property exchanges” as marketplaces for knowledge. But IP policy did not take centre stage and neither did other access topics in Bali, which instead was overshadowed by the recent revelations of mass surveillance by US intelligence services.
Antigua Creating Platform To Monetise Suspended US IP Rights From WTO Case 24/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments The government of Antigua and Barbuda is said to be taking steps to set up a platform to allow the tiny Caribbean nation to monetise or otherwise take advantage of the suspension of US intellectual property rights, as it is permitted to do by a World Trade Organization dispute panel. The WTO panel had ruled that Antigua could make up its loss in IP rights for US measures blocking Antiguan online gambling in the US.
WHO Performance Undermined By Inadequate EU Collaboration 23/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Though the WHO is among the recipients of EU contributions, support should be scaled up now that the WHO fears program cuts because of a persistent funding crisis. Revenues from a Financial Transaction Tax would be a resource for the EU to partly allocate for WHO needs, writes Daniele Dionisio.
European Parliament: No More Bank Data Transfers To US For Anti-Terror Investigations 23/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Parliament is showing some teeth again. Following the ongoing revelations of mass surveillance by US intelligence agencies, the Parliament plenary today passed a resolution calling on the EU Commission to temporarily suspend all data transfers according to the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) with the United States Treasury Department.
A New Model For Internet Governance Is In The Air 23/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Brazilian Minister of Communications Paolo Bernado Silva, during the opening session of this week’s 8th Internet Governance Forum in Bali, Indonesia, announced that the goal of the Internet Governance Summit in Brazil next spring will be to find a new model for internet governance.
Sign Of The Times: USTR Press Events 100 Percent Closed To Press 22/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment How sensitive is US trade? Perhaps as an indication of its approach to the press, the United States Trade Representative’s office yesterday published its weekly “press week ahead” full of events that would be of interest to domestic and international press – and 100 percent closed to press.
Bali IGF: Surveillance, Human Rights, Governance Of Internet Resources, “Multistakeholderism” 21/10/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The revelations of mass surveillance by the US and other intelligence services are expected to considerably influence the 8th Internet Governance Forum in Bali, Indonesia this week.
USPTO Seeks Comments On 2014-2018 Strategic Plan 17/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued its draft strategic plan for 2014-2018 and is asking for comments.