WIPO Committee Issues Revised Text On Traditional Knowledge Protection 24/04/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After an intense day of drafting led by member country experts in small groups in closed rooms, the World Intellectual Property Organization secretariat released a new set of draft articles of what could become an international instrument aimed at protecting traditional knowledge.
Protecting Traditional Knowledge: WIPO Members Back To The Drafting Table 22/04/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization delegates are meeting once again this week to try to advance a text that could become an international instrument to protect traditional knowledge. Substantial work needs to be done on the draft text, ands developing countries generally favour a legal binding instrument while developed countries would prefer a softer instrument.
Mixed Reactions Among Participants In WIPO Talks On Treaty For The Blind 22/04/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments At the close of this week’s negotiating session for an international treaty on copyright exceptions for blind and visually impaired persons, some governments, including upcoming host Morocco, expressed disappointment in the outcome of a three-day drafting session, as it left so much for the diplomatic conference. But most said they are optimistic that solutions can be found.
WIPO Members Send Draft Treaty For The Blind To Marrakesh 22/04/2013 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization have completed work on a draft treaty on copyright exceptions for the blind and visually impaired and agreed to move to a diplomatic conference in Morocco in June. But the text contains many areas displaying the difficulty in easing cross-border access to materials for blind people while protecting copyright holders’ interests.
In UN Talks On Treaty For The Blind, Concern About Heavy Focus On Rightholders’ Interests 20/04/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The treaty currently being discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization is of prime importance for blind and visually impaired people who are expecting that negotiators will engineer a treaty that is workable in the real world, they say. But too much focus on the right holders concerns might endanger the utility of such a treaty, according to the representative of a blind persons’ organisation.
Time Ticking For WIPO Delegates On Copyright Exceptions Treaty 19/04/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new text has been the subject of negotiation today by a committee seeking to finalise a draft treaty providing exceptions and limitations to copyrights so that blind and visually impaired people have facilitated access to special format books. Delegates are seeking to find language through agreed statements as a way out of prickly issues.
Last Drafting Effort On WIPO Treaty For The Blind Before Diplomatic Conference 17/04/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments In an effort to clean up a draft treaty text providing limitations and exceptions to copyright for blind and visually impaired persons, World Intellectual Property Organization members will meet this week for intense drafting sessions. The text, once cleaned, is expected to be sent to a top-level treaty negotiation in June.
WIPO Delegates Progressing On Once-Moribund Broadcasting Treaty 16/04/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A meeting meant to advance discussions on a treaty to protect the rights of broadcasting organisations held last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization yielded substantive results, according to the meeting chair. However, civil society remains cautious about potential side effects of such an instrument, while countries appear to have divergent views on the practicalities of the treaty.
Protection of Broadcasting Organisations, Another Treaty Brewing At WIPO 09/04/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The protection of broadcasting organisations will be discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week as delegates are expected to work on a text that could become an international treaty.
WIPO Hails India’s Accession To Trademark System; India Advocates Balance 09/04/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A full room of country delegates and ambassadors gathered yesterday to celebrate the accession of India to the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks at the World Intellectual Property Organization. However, beyond the joy of accession, the recent decision of the Indian Supreme Court on a Novartis drug patent loomed in the room.