European Audit Of GIs Shows Need For Clear Rules, Awareness 16/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Court of Auditors yesterday issued a performance audit on European Commission management of the European geographical indications (GI) scheme, which covers products with an estimated value of €15 billion annually. The auditors found room for improvement in clarifying the rules and a need for greater awareness of GIs.
Barrage Of Doubts Voiced On US Internet Piracy Bill 16/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments An international outcry from open internet proponents has emerged over draft US legislation, HR 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), on the eve of a hearing on the bill. International critics say the bill would put the United States on the same ground as China with regards to internet filtering, undermining the US argument for internet freedom.
Global Action To Open Generic Competition For Key AIDS Drug 16/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Public health advocates in a dozen countries worldwide have launched a coordinated campaign to bring about generic competition on a key medicine for HIV/AIDS, currently under patent by a pharmaceutical producer.
Least-Developed Nations Propose Extension Of Deadline To Join TRIPS 16/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Least-developed countries at the World Trade Organization have proposed an extension of the deadline they are facing to comply with a WTO agreement on intellectual property rights. But they left open how much more time they would like after the 2013 deadline.
WIPO: IP Policy Moves To Forefront Of Global Innovation 15/11/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has released its first report in what is expected to be a series of publications seeking to explain, clarify and contribute to policy relating to intellectual property. Its debut report, WIPO presented figures that show a growing global demand for patents, a soaring increase in licensing and royalty fees revenues, and an increase in low and middle-income economies’ share of global spending on research and development.
WIPO Development Committee Kicks Off With Compromise 15/11/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The eighth session of the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) opened this week with the close of its seventh session. Committee coordinators were still gathered in negotiations as the eighth session was due to begin on 14 November, hammering out a compromise on proposed meetings on South-South cooperation among developing countries.
Post-Grant Oppositions Under US Patent Reform 14/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment On September 16, 2012, the post-grant review process in the United States will change to closely resemble the opposition procedures in Europe even down to the same nine-month window after grant to oppose. With these new changes going into effect in less than a year, it is important for practitioners to use this time to become familiar with the new procedures and processes, writes Michael Siekman.
33 North American Institutions Sign Declaration On Open Access 13/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Thirty-three research institutions, associations and foundations in North America last week signed the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities, committing to support open access research in the future. The signing brings the total signers to nearly 300, including many of the top research institutions in the world.
WIPO Audit/Evaluation Process Comes Of Age, With A Development Side 11/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Evaluation and auditing of the World Intellectual Property Organization gained increased interest a few years ago when rich member countries responsible for most of its revenues became alarmed about questions of financial and human resources management. But now the UN agency’s sometimes bumpy evaluation process is maturing, including a development aspect, and has a new external report on its global technical assistance programmes.
UNESCO Creates Fund For Budget Shortfall After US Withholds Dues 11/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has set up a fund for donations to support core activities after the United States withheld its dues equalling nearly a quarter of UNESCO’s budget. Already the agency has begun cutting programmes in developing countries, it said.