US Proposes 3-Step Test For Copyright Exceptions In Trans-Pacific Trade Talks 04/07/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on 3 July announced the proposal of a new provision for a trade agreement that will put copyright exceptions and limitations to a 3-step test. The text of the provision was not made available to the public, and reaction to the news by public interest groups has been cautious.
US Awards Contract For Key Internet Function To ICANN 03/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States government on 2 July announced it has awarded a contract to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to manage a key underlying function of the internet for up to 7 years.
US Congress Members Demand Access To TPP; ACTA Criticised In Australia 27/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment More than 130 members of the United States Congress have sent a letter to the US Trade Representative demanding greater access to the still-secret Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, while a new bill is being introduced to reform US trade policy. And another Congress member who earlier publicly leaked the intellectual property rights chapter of the agreement has sent a request to be included as a member of the US delegation to the negotiations.
A Bigger, Meaner Patent War 25/06/2012 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It’s been called a patent war, and it’s raging over much of the globe. In at least ten countries – including the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and South Korea – Apple is locked in ferocious legal battles against Google, Samsung and HTC over whose smartphones and tablets infringe whose patents. There’s a lot a stake: Damages could run into billions of dollars. Even worse, the loser could wind up being forbidden to sell its products in various markets. This costly, high-stakes global patent war may seem unprecedented. But according to many experts, that’s only partly true. In many ways, this patent war is similar to major patent disputes in the past. And it is likely a foretaste of more patent wars in the future.
Internet Freedom At Home: Governments, Companies Need Accountability, Speakers Say 22/06/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The freedom to access the internet does not translate into freedom of expression in many countries of the world, including in western economies, according to speakers at a peer forum organised yesterday by the United States mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
BIO Releases Consultant Report Promoting IP Rights 21/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At its annual meeting this week in Boston, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), put its name to a report promoting the advantages of intellectual property rights for the industry.
US-EU Transatlantic Trade Deal Would Skip IPRs 21/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 15 Comments The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) yesterday released an interim report with the European Union on ways to expand transatlantic trade and investment. But apparently this would not including trying to bridge differences on intellectual property rights.
Music Publishers, Universal Sign “Groundbreaking” Licence Deal 19/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A trade association representing music publishers and songwriters today announced a model licensing deal with Universal Music Group that is expected to allow songwriters and publishers to share in the revenue from music videos. Universal is the first record label to make such an agreement, parties said.
IP Owners Join USPTO: Copying For Patent Applications Is Fair Use 19/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and a leading US rights holder group have entered a case involving rights over prior art submitted in patent applications, arguing that it falls under fair use.
Upcoming Event: 5th Product And Pipeline Enhancement For Generics 06/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A conference entitled the “5th Product and Pipeline Enhancement for Generics” to be held in Washington, DC on 17-19 July will feature industry leaders in the generic, branded pharmaceutical and API industries. Issues covered will include current and upcoming changes in regulations and the market, innovation in drug pipeline, portfolio management and business development, intellectual property protection and biosimilars.