WIPO, WTO Requested To Advise On Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty 15/04/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Several members of the European Parliament today sent letters to the directors general of the World Intellectual Property Organization and the World Trade Organization requesting technical assistance in the negotiation of an agreement that some are calling an attempt to circumvent global norms on intellectual property enforcement and related public interest flexibility.
Risk Of Wrongful Medicines Seizures Seen In EU-Central America Trade Deal 06/04/2010 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new accord designed to bolster political and economic ties between the European Union and Central America could result in greater seizures of medicines whenever pharmaceutical companies allege that their patents have been infringed, public health advocates have warned.
Leaked ACTA Text Shows Possible Contradictions With National Laws 29/03/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments “No changes in domestic” law promised the partners currently negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. A leaked 56-page recent consolidated version of the much-discussed agreement shows that this might not be completely true. The draft version with a lot of bracketed text in it shows that some countries are more open about the potential need to change their domestic laws than others.
EU To Request Publication Of ACTA Documents To Stop “Rumours”; Civil Society Meeting Planned 22/03/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Europe will request the publication of the current drafts for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) at the next ACTA negotiating meeting in New Zealand in April, EU trade official Luc Devigne said today. Speaking at the third EU stakeholder meeting on the hotly debated ACTA today in Brussels, Devigne also said there is also a meeting with civil society planned to take place alongside the New Zealand round.
Influential EU Industry Group Urges Stronger IP Focus In Trade Relations 18/03/2010 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Greater emphasis should be placed on intellectual property issues in the European Union’s trade relations with developing countries, a leading employers group has recommended.
2009 Tough For International Trademark Filings; 2010 Looking Up 18/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment International trademark filings plummeted in 2009 but trends should be reversed as the global economy regains strength with signs already showing in 2010, World Intellectual Property Organization’s Director General Francis Gurry said today.
Public Health Policy In 2010: Research Funding And Regulations 17/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Finding ways to fund research and regulating medication is critical to international public health policy and intellectual property rights specialists in 2010.
European Parliament Votes To Rein In Anti-Counterfeiting Treaty 10/03/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The European Parliament today voted overwhelmingly in favour of a demand to be kept fully informed about the secretive Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement under negotiation by the European Commission and about a dozen countries outside Europe. Parliament also opposed controversial provisions such as personal searches at European borders and cutting internet access for anyone found infringing copyright online three times.
Leading IP Offices Target Patent Backlog, Economy; Differ On Harmonisation 10/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The backlog in patent processing could impose £7.6 billion (about USD$11.3 billion) in annual expenses on the global economy within the next five years if nothing is done to fix it, according to a new economics study from the United Kingdom released this morning before directors of several top global intellectual property offices.
Tough IP Health Provisions In Europe’s Colombia/Peru Trade Deal 25/02/2010 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Far-reaching provisions on the patenting of medicine have been inserted into a controversial free trade agreement between the European Union and Colombia and Peru.