Brazilian President Warns US On Surveillance, Calls For UN Reform 25/09/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Brazilian President Dilma Roussef yesterday sent a stern warning to the United States over ongoing revelations of state espionage during the opening of the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York and at the same time called for a multilateral framework for internet governance.
WIPO General Assembly Opens With Loaded Agenda 23/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization annual General Assembly opened today with an unusual number of issues for delegates to solve, in particular those inherited from the committee in charge of approving the budget and the programmes of the organisation earlier in the month. Among pressing issues are WIPO external offices and decisions to be made on potential treaties such as on industrial designs, the protection of broadcasting organisations, and the protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Indonesia Becomes Fifth To File WTO Case Against Australia Tobacco Plain-Packaging 22/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Indonesia has become the fifth country to initiate dispute settlement procedures at the World Trade Organization challenging an Australian public health law requiring tobacco products to be sold in plain packages as a way to discourage their use.
Civil Society Groups Launch Human Rights Principles Related To Mass Surveillance 21/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A coalition of civil society organisations yesterday officially launched a set of 13 principles on the application of human rights to communication surveillance during a side event at the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Members Of US Congress Urge US To Oppose Re-Election Of WIPO Director Gurry 20/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments A handful of influential members of the United States Congress have sent a letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry, urging the Obama administration not to support the re-election of World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry.
Parliament Member Named IP Adviser To UK Prime Minister 18/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A member of the UK Parliament active in promoting intellectual property rights has been named the UK prime minister’s adviser on IP with a focus on enforcement.
Infojustice: Peruvian Legislators File Motion Seeking Public Debate On Trans-Pacific Partnership 16/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Infojustice.org writes: On August 28, a group of members of the Peruvian legislature – the Parlamentario Acción Popular-Frente Amplio – proposed a motion that asks for greater transparency in the Trans Pacific Partnership Negotiations. Specifically, the motion seeks “a public, political, and technical debate on the proposals of the Trans-pacific Partnership” and requests “the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism and the technical team in charge of the Trans-pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations to report on the matter.”
Review Of US IP Enforcement, Copyright Reform Process Stir Interest 16/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States government is undertaking substantive review of, and strategy for, its intellectual property system, with an eye toward a major overhaul of aspects such as copyright. And stakeholders are leaping at the opportunity to comment.
WIPO Programme And Budget Committee Passes Baton To Assembly 16/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization delegates last week stumbled on a number of issues while discussing the programme and budget of the organisation, leaving to the annual WIPO General Assembly convening next week the task of breaching differences. Particular issues included proposed new WIPO external offices, the programme on small and medium-sized enterprises and innovation, and development expenditure.
WIPO Program And Budget Committee Works Through Revisions On Key Issues 13/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In-depth discussions and revisions of programmes did not speed up the decision-taking of World Intellectual Property Organization delegates trying to approve the programmes and budget of the organisation this week. Heading into the final day, consensus was elusive on some items such as the establishment of external offices, or a reporting mechanism for the programme on intellectual property and global challenges.