Novartis India Challenge Postponed To July 28/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Indian Supreme Court today postponed hearing the high-profile case involving Swiss pharmaceutical producer Novartis’ challenge of India’s patent law until July, according to sources.
European Parliament Rejects Referral Of ACTA To EU High Court 27/03/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Committee of International Trade of the European Parliament today voted against referring the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
US Supreme Court Reverses Myriad Decision Allowing Gene Patents 27/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States Supreme Court yesterday threw out a high-profile case that had allowed a private company’s patents on two human genes associated with cancer.
Global Fund Changes Continue As West Africa Team Leader Departs 23/03/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The head of the West Africa region for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is the next in the line of departures under the organisation’s reforms. On the way out, he sent around a passionate farewell email calling for a dedication to values, and offering a small window on the wrenching transition taking place inside the international organisation.
UK Parliament Group Conducts Post-Hargreaves Inquiry Into IP Policy 22/03/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The All-Party Parliamentary Intellectual Property Group in the United Kingdom is undertaking an inquiry into the government’s role in intellectual property (IP) promotion and protection, less than a year after the publication of an independent and comprehensive review on the UK’s IP system.
US Supreme Court Narrows Patentable Subject Matter 21/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments On 20 March, the US Supreme Court cut back on the types of inventions that can be patented in America. The court held in Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Labs., Inc. that one cannot patent an invention which merely applies known technology to natural phenomena.
Nigerian Courts Step Up Against Copyright Piracy: 18 Convicted 21/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The last year has witnessed a series of convictions of copyright pirates by the Federal High Courts in Nigeria. Information provided by Afam Ezekude, the Director General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission, the government agency responsible for copyright matters, shows that the courts have convicted copyright infringers in 18 cases within the last 5 months (October 2011 to February 2012).
French IP Industry Experts Discuss IP Portfolios, Trademarks Online 21/03/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – Intellectual property assets and how they influence corporate value, plus trademarks in the digital world were discussed last week by intellectual property professionals gathered in Paris.
Brazil HIV Drug Patent Ruling Allows Generics, Sends Pipeline Process Into Doubt 21/03/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Word is spreading of a recent decision by a Brazilian judge to annul a patent on a key AIDS drug, effectively allowing less expensive generic versions into the country, and calling into question other such patents.
French IP Lawyers Prefer No Favours For Green Tech Patents; Welcome America Invents Act 20/03/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – A meeting of IP professionals held in Paris last week reaffirmed the importance of intellectual property and its protection to the private sector. Meanwhile, panellists at the event argued that green technologies should not benefit from a special regime. They also hailed the new America Invents Act as facilitating patent applications in the United States.