US Supreme Court Narrows Patentable Subject Matter 21/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments On 20 March, the US Supreme Court cut back on the types of inventions that can be patented in America. The court held in Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Labs., Inc. that one cannot patent an invention which merely applies known technology to natural phenomena.
Special Report: Focus On Intermediaries’ Role Rises As Internet Matures 21/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment With the commercial internet now in its early twenties, stakeholders are finding themselves at a crossroads, unsure whether to allow business as usual or embrace a more regulated regime. Intellectual property, with its penchant for protection, is one of those areas where the tug-of-war is most evident, and seemingly caught in the middle are internet intermediaries.
Nigerian Courts Step Up Against Copyright Piracy: 18 Convicted 21/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The last year has witnessed a series of convictions of copyright pirates by the Federal High Courts in Nigeria. Information provided by Afam Ezekude, the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the government agency responsible for copyright matters, shows that the courts have convicted copyright infringers in 18 cases within the last 5 months (October 2011 to February 2012).
French IP Industry Experts Discuss IP Portfolios, Trademarks Online 21/03/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – Intellectual property assets and how they influence corporate value, plus trademarks in the digital world were discussed last week by intellectual property professionals gathered in Paris.
Brazil HIV Drug Patent Ruling Allows Generics, Sends Pipeline Process Into Doubt 21/03/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Word is spreading of a recent decision by a Brazilian judge to annul a patent on a key AIDS drug, effectively allowing less expensive generic versions into the country, and calling into question other such patents.
French IP Lawyers Prefer No Favours For Green Tech Patents; Welcome America Invents Act 20/03/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – A meeting of IP professionals held in Paris last week reaffirmed the importance of intellectual property and its protection to the private sector. Meanwhile, panellists at the event argued that green technologies should not benefit from a special regime. They also hailed the new America Invents Act as facilitating patent applications in the United States.
WTO Special Session On GI Register Meets This Week 20/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization group discussing the mandated establishment of a register for wines and spirits geographical indications will meet this week to elect a new chair.
Debate Heats Up Ahead Of EU Parliament Discussion On ACTA 19/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Opposing opinions on the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) clashed anew ahead of next week’s meetings of the European Parliament where the EU body may make critical decisions on the fate of the deal.
US Group Creates Social Platform To Lobby For And Create Internet Reforms 19/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Public Knowledge, a Washington, DC-based public interest group, has launched an initiative that capitalises on active participation from American online and social media users to lobby for the adoption of some reforms in internet governance aimed at protecting knowledge access.
A NEW South Africa Traditional Knowledge Bill – Sui Generis Protection for TK 18/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments If you cannot beat them, join them. For that reason this Chair of IP has decided to announce a NEW sui generis Protection of Traditional Knowledge Bill in the hope that something may yet be done to save us all.