New Document On Traditional Knowledge, Folklore At WIPO; Chair Calls For New Conceptual Approach 30/08/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The protection of traditional knowledge and folklore against misappropriation is a topic that has been occupying World Intellectual Property Organization delegates for close to two decades. This week a new draft document, presenting a proposed revision of a set of draft articles of potential treaties, was released by a drafting team. As some countries are keen on preserving their original language and ideas, the committee chair called for delegates to move on with their work, and lift themselves above how the patent and copyright system works.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee Begins Work On Core Issues; Indigenous Peoples May Be Left Out 27/08/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization’s committee seeking to find solutions against misappropriation of traditional knowledge opened this morning. While delegates are expected to negotiate wording of a potential treaty, the fund allowing indigenous peoples to participate in the discussions is empty with no foreseeable new donors, described by the chair as a historical situation. The committee is also trying to agree on recommendations for the upcoming WIPO General Assembly next month. On core issues, such as what the protection should cover, who would benefit from it, and under which conditions, delegates still have to find common positions.
USPTO Seeks Comments On Draft Strategic Plan 2018-2022 23/08/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking comments on its draft strategic plan for the years 2018-2022. The draft plan covers a range of goals, including optimizing patent and trademark quality and timeliness, and providing “domestic and global leadership to improve intellectual property policy, enforcement, and protection worldwide.”
New Report Calls For Copyright For Public Benefit In Digital Era 21/08/2018 by David Branigan, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) has released a new report calling for a redesign of global copyright norms to preserve the public interest in the face of emerging technologies.
Updated WIPO Guide On Alternative Dispute Resolution A Tool For IP Offices 31/07/2018 by Gaensly Joseph for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center has released an updated guide providing an overview of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes for intellectual property disputes. The guide provides instructions on how to use the ADR process that has helped resolve tens of thousands of legal disputes outside of the courts.
WIPO Looks At Importance Of Standards Documents, Collaboration Of IP Offices And Standards Organisations 18/07/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Common standards are essential for technologies, particularly for interoperability. However, a number of technologies essential to standards are patented, which has created issues relating to licensing or high royalties. Last week, the World Intellectual Property Organization organised an information session on patents and standards, including aspects of patent quality, issues relating to international trade, and the role of the organisation in facilitating the relationship between patents and standards.
Global Innovation Divide: Can Investment In Innovation Bridge The Gap? 17/07/2018 by David Branigan and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Global Innovation Index 2018, launched on 10 July in New York, has lauded the rise of China as a model for how other low and middle-income economies can advance on innovation. Amid this optimism, however, the global innovation divide remains in step with the global income divide, raising questions for how to bridge this gap. The new index shows signs of progress.
(Video) Europe’s Innovation Renaissance, China’s ‘Astonishing’ Rise: Global Innovation Index 2018 17/07/2018 by David Branigan, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment European countries led by Switzerland are experiencing an “innovation renaissance,” this year’s Global Innovation Index shows, while the scale of China’s rise in the index is “quite astonishing,” Sacha Wunsch-Vincent, senior economic officer at the World Intellectual Property Organization, says in a short video interview with Intellectual Property Watch.
Balance Achieved In Future Work For WIPO Patent Law Committee, Delegates Say 13/07/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The last World Intellectual Property Organization committee before the summer break ended on a happy note this week. After some time spent tweaking the future work of the WIPO committee on the law of patents, delegates appeared satisfied with the balance achieved. The week saw plans for conferences, numerous new proposals and calls for reports, on subjects such as research exceptions, patents and medicines access, compulsory licensing, technology transfer, and patent quality.
Global Innovation Index 2018: China Breaks Into Top 20, US Drops Out Of Top 5 11/07/2018 by David Branigan, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NEW YORK — The 11th edition of the Global Innovation Index 2018 (GII), co-published by Cornell University, INSEAD, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, was released yesterday at a launch event in New York. This year’s report showed Switzerland still at the top overall, China continuing to rise, the United States slipping, and explored how countries can vary on inputs and outputs of innovation.