ECJ: Topographic Maps, Geographical Information And The Interpretation Of “Independent Material” 20/11/2015 by Marie Barani for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Court of Justice of the European Union gave a preliminary ruling on 29 October related to the definition of a “database,” more especially of the “independent material” constituting a database.
New Industry Coalition To Promote Fair Standards In Licensing 19/11/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A group of companies launched the Fair Standards Alliance this week in Brussels, aimed at ensuring licensing of standard-essential patents is done on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. This reflects an industry trend toward clarifying the meaning of FRAND to help boost use of patents included in standards.
Strength In Unity: Mercosur Countries Join To Negotiate Lower Prices For Hepatitis C and HIV Drugs 18/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments South American countries are negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to obtain common cheaper prices for high-cost medicines. The first target of initial negotiations delivered lower prices for hepatitis C and HIV. Further negotiations will be geared to additional hepatitis C, HIV and oncology medicines.
Tech Transfer, Better Regulation, Policy Reform Can Spur Growth In East Africa’s Pharma Sector, Experts Say 18/11/2015 by Fredrick Nzwili for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — Amid concerns over cheap imports, substandard products and counterfeits, pharmaceutical experts in East Africa are set to hold a summit early next year to discuss key challenges facing the industry in the region. Experts at the event announcement in Nairobi today stressed that technology transfer, better regulation and policy reforms can accelerate growth and spur innovation in the sector.
Life After WIPO: New Nigerian Foreign Minister Onyeama Puts Experience To Use 17/11/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Former World Intellectual Property Organization Deputy Director General Geoffrey Onyeama has been named the new minister of foreign affairs of Nigeria. And according to Nigerian press reports, he plans to use IP and innovation to help Nigeria’s economy, and plans to support the new government’s high-profile efforts against corruption.
Publishers Not Entitled To Compensation Under Reprography Exception, EU High Court Rules 17/11/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European reproduction schemes for compensating authors don’t cover publishers, the European Court of Justice said in a 12 November judgment in Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL v. Reprobel SCRL and Epson Europe BV.
Governments, Industry Offer Mixed Hope For Multilateral IP Policymaking 11/11/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment WASHINGTON, DC — The sun may be setting on multilateral policymaking in intellectual property in the eyes of industry, but leading United States and European Union representatives insist on its continued vital role in trade and economy. But a “new narrative” is needed as they emphasise bilateral and plurilateral agreements.
EU Trademark Reform Advances; Dutch Warn Of Holdup Of Goods In Transit 10/11/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Union Council of ministers today adopted its position on the reform of the European trademark system. The Netherlands delegation abstained from voting out of concern that the proposed reform introduces the possibility to stop goods in transit for possible intellectual property infringement.
Could Cross-Border Extended Collective Licensing Open Digital Treasure Troves? 09/11/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment STOCKHOLM, Sweden — Libraries and archives are increasingly important in the digital era, but without better access to their vast reservoirs of data and materials for research and education, “we are going to lose out,” Anne Leer, World Intellectual Property Organization deputy director general, culture and creative industries sector, said at a conference hosted this week by the National Library of Sweden and Stockholm University. The 5-6 November event looked at whether cross-border copyright collective rights management might be an effective mechanism for accessing digital archives and libraries.
‘One Battleship Has Arrived In Port’ – A Japanese View On The TPP 07/11/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The TPP is done, or not quite. But what is still lacking, what are next steps and what does the finalised deal do to the grand picture of the mega-trade deal landscape? Japanese economist Nakagawa Junji, Professor of International Economic Law Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo, shares a view from Japan with writer Monika Ermert.