EU Sets Out H1N1 Flu Strategy; Partners With Pharma On Medicines Development 20/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Several strategy papers laying out a plan to aid European Union member states in responding to the pandemic outbreak of H1N1 influenza were published last week by the European Commission, as Europe enters its fall flu season. Meanwhile, a partnership between the Commission and the European pharmaceutical industry announced a second call for proposals, aimed at increasing research and development of medicines for cancer as well as infectious disease.
WIPO: Patents, Trademarks Tied To Economic Cycles But Crisis Impact Uneven 20/09/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry was accompanied publicly for the first time by the United Nations agency’s first economist as they presented data Friday showing the positive correlation between patent applications and economic cycles.
Opposition To Aspects Of Google Book Project Settlement Mounts 18/09/2009 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Google’s court settlement in the United States that could allow the search engine giant to sell scanned books online is increasingly coming under fire prior to the final hearing in the matter next month. Government entities and groups in the United States and in Europe that oppose the settlement could, at the very least, temporarily derail Google Book Search, according to sources.
Human Rights, Multi-Stakeholder Approach Are European Priority For Internet Governance 18/09/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Stakeholders gathered this week to discuss a European approach to the governance of the internet in the lead-up to the next global forum on the issue. The second European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) took place in Geneva on 14-15 September and brought together some 200 representatives.
EPO Announces Four Candidates For Next President 17/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Patent Office today announced four people in the running to replace its current president, Alison Brimelow, who is not seeking another term after hers expires on 30 June 2010.
Brimelow Stresses Need For Better Patent System; Discusses Harmonisation 17/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The way the patent system is currently structured rewards slowness and low quality, but the needed changes will have to include a new revenue model, a top European patent official said today.
Technology Transfer Will Be Part Of Copenhagen Climate Deal 16/09/2009 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment COPENHAGEN – Technology transfer is bound to be part of a possible new international climate deal at the high-level meeting in Copenhagen in December, according to officials. Meanwhile, international economists have concluded that such transfers constitute a win-win situation for developed and developing countries when it comes to combating climate change.
New EU Communication On Increased IP Enforcement 14/09/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The European Commission Trade Directorate today adopted a “communication on enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights” within the European Union internal market that aims at greater coordination but stops short of new legislative measures.
Will KSR‘s Effect On Small Molecule Patents Be Limited? 14/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Four recent Federal Circuit decisions suggest that small molecules are special and may be relatively unaffected by the US Supreme Court KSR decision, write Photon Rao and George Best.
Brevetage des gènes: la résistance se renforce aux Etats-Unis et en Europe 14/09/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment L’action en justice intentée récemment contre le Bureau américain des brevets et des marques de commerce par une entreprise de biotechnologie et une fondation concernant des brevets sur les gènes associés au cancer a permis d’attirer l’attention de l’opinion internationale sur la question du brevetage des gènes humains, une pratique contre laquelle un groupe d’associations influentes a exprimé son opposition le 27 août.