New Rules Eyed For Election Of WHO Director General 18/01/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments With the World Health Organization director general’s term of office ending next year, WHO members today set up a drafting group to try to reconcile divergent views on the process leading to the election. Some countries are in favour of a principle of geographical rotation – citing over 60 years of no representation from their regions, while some other countries claimed rotation could override more important selection criteria such as expertise and experience, and could endanger the organisation’s future.
WHO Future In Question; Debate Over Industry Representation 17/01/2011 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A seemingly overworked and impoverished World Health Organization opened its Executive Board session today with calls for reform amid deep concerns about its financial future. Meanwhile, dissension arose over an industry representative named by the WHO secretariat to a new research and development funding working group, sparking the WHO director general to cast doubt on the role of industry in such groups.
Fair Usage In Caribbean Intellectual Property 16/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments A panoramic view of the IP situation in the Caribbean would present to the observer a carnival of Olympic size replete with politicians, diplomats, rights advocates, consumer groups, law enforcement, and impotent jurists, all gyrating discordantly to the WIPO band while Caribbean citizens look on, or are pulled or shoved in, writes Abiola Inniss.
Lawmakers Backing Comcast-NBC Merger Were Paid By Comcast 13/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Comcast gave money to the vast majority of the 97 members of the US House of Representatives that signed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging approval of a merger between cable company Comcast and broadcaster NBC Universal, according to research. The 5 January letter, linked here [pdf] and circulated by nonprofit group Public […]
Europe’s Outlook For 2011: EU Patent, Digital Content, Innovation And Free Trade 13/01/2011 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Digital Agenda’s hoped-for role as a key growth driver for Europe’s flagging economy has pushed intellectual property issues into a high-priority spot on the EU’s policy agenda for 2011. In an effort to boost job creation and innovation, the European Commission is looking to improve online content licensing, access and protection. And despite continuing opposition from several countries, the long-awaited European patent is finally moving forward. Debate is also heating up on new ways to encourage biomedical innovation, and on a proposed EU-India free trade pact.
US Supreme Court Expected To Weaken Patent Validity 12/01/2011 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Patents will soon receive less protection in the United States. That’s the view of many experts who have been closely following Microsoft Corp. v. i4i Ltd. Partnership, which will be argued before the United States Supreme Court later this year.
Patent Reform, Piracy, Generic Drug Issues Likely For US Congress This Year 11/01/2011 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Although attempts to repeal last year’s healthcare reform bill and efforts to get the deficit under control may take up much of the United States Congress’ time this year, lawmakers are expected to tackle a number of intellectual property-related priorities lawmakers, including patent reform, internet neutrality, and enforcement during the new 112th session.
The 2011 Drug Patent ‘Cliff’ And The Evolution Of IP Valuation 11/01/2011 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In today’s global economy, there is an increasing convergence of intellectual property and finance. Wall Street is grappling with how to recognise the true value of a firm’s intellectual property. Companies are realising that simply accumulating patents does not necessarily increase their firms’ value, but it is how those patents are used that can attract capital. And drug companies facing massive numbers of upcoming patent expiries, a deflated economy and other market pressures, are looking to diversify their portfolios to stay in the black.
The Top Legal IP Issues In The United States In 2011 07/01/2011 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The year 2010 was a turbulent year for intellectual property law in the United States, and 2011 promises more of the same. The following are some of the top US IP developments to watch in the coming year.
Special Report: Music Industry’s Lavish Lobby Campaign For Digital Rights 06/01/2011 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch 13 Comments The music industry has spent tens of millions of dollars to lobby government officials worldwide during the past decade, but whether or not the initiative has helped to shape a viable legal and commercial framework is a subject of debate.