GIs The “Darling” of Europe, But Protection A Challenge For All, Producers Say 28/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Bordeaux – The challenges for geographical indications in the 21st century were explored at a recent conference co-organised by two organisations promoting this type of intellectual property protection. Among issues presented were the protection of geographical indications, and the value of geographical indications at the European level.
WIPO Members Debate Reduction Of PCT Fees; Send Back PPH Proposal 25/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) met this week to discuss possible amendments to the regulations under the treaty. Among issues discussed were possible fee reductions, the proposed formal integration of the Patent Prosecution Highway into the treaty, and the coordination of technical assistance under the treaty.
GI Proponents Assess Progress, Challenges; French Minister Blasts Large-Scale Agriculture 24/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Bordeaux, France – In a stronghold of French gastronomy and famous regional products an industry organisation lobbying for the protection of geographical indications chose this week to convene its general assembly and set the goals for future actions.
Parliament Members Call For Removal Of Conditions In WIPO Treaty For Blind 22/05/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Members of all political party groups in the European Parliament in a debate in Strasbourg yesterday asked the European Commission to scrap several conditions demanded by the European Union and other Western countries in the World Intellectual Property Organization negotiations for the draft treaty on copyright exceptions for the blind and visually impaired.
WIPO Unveils Results Of Training Department Assessment, But Keeps Document Secret 21/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization training arm has been undergoing an external assessment which was presented to member states during the organisation’s committee on development last week.
WIPO Development Committee Ends On Positive Note With Modest Results 18/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments After a week which many World Intellectual Property Organization delegates working on development issues found difficult, a degree of consensus appeared in the last hour late on 17 May. Developing countries’ requests were substantially scaled down as discussions on several areas threatened to be bogged down indefinitely.
WIPO Group To Consider Substantive Amendment To Patent Cooperation Treaty 18/05/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the agenda of the normally technical World Intellectual Property Organization working group on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) next week is a proposal for an amendment that would incorporate the bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) used by some countries into the PCT. This has stirred concern among countries that are currently outside the PPH system.
WIPO Programmes Seek To Bridge IP And Climate Change, Global Health 17/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization is involved in activities aimed at facilitating technology transfer for green technologies, and research and development for neglected diseases, malaria and tuberculosis. At the request of member states, WIPO’s Global Challenges Division gave a briefing this week on those activities.
Micro Consensus on WIPO Technical Assistance; Prickly Issues Left Open 17/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment One of the key discussions of the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and IP (CDIP) this week was the improvement of WIPO technical assistance in the area of cooperation and development. Discussions trailed on for two days as countries were unable to agree on recommendations to be implemented, and if there should be any adoption by the committee. Shy of concrete consensus, the committee agreed on three modest actions.
Concerns Arise Over Implementation Of WIPO Development Agenda 14/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This week’s meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organisation committee on development started with a firm display of divergent positions by member states. Developing countries said that member states should be consulted on WIPO’s participation in international events to ensure that a balanced view on IP is reflected. Developed countries said they considered it as superfluous micro-management of the UN organisation.