USTR Froman: FTAs A Way To Get Higher IP Standards Into Global Trade “Bloodstream” 31/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Trade Representative Michael Froman today said that bilateral and regional agreements offer a way to get higher standards in areas such as intellectual property rights protection “into the bloodstream” of the global trading system, when it is not possible to do it through multilateral agreements.
Antigua Creating Platform To Monetise Suspended US IP Rights From WTO Case 24/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments The government of Antigua and Barbuda is said to be taking steps to set up a platform to allow the tiny Caribbean nation to monetise or otherwise take advantage of the suspension of US intellectual property rights, as it is permitted to do by a World Trade Organization dispute panel. The WTO panel had ruled that Antigua could make up its loss in IP rights for US measures blocking Antiguan online gambling in the US.
Sign Of The Times: USTR Press Events 100 Percent Closed To Press 22/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment How sensitive is US trade? Perhaps as an indication of its approach to the press, the United States Trade Representative’s office yesterday published its weekly “press week ahead” full of events that would be of interest to domestic and international press – and 100 percent closed to press.
New EU Customs Regulation Might Allow Wrongful Seizures Of Generic Drugs In Transit, NGOs Say 17/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A recent European Union regulation on customs enforcement of intellectual property rights has raised concerns among civil society actors who find that the regulation might not be an improvement over its previous version under which seizure of legal generic medicines in transit occurred a few years ago, leading to a World Trade Organization dispute.
IP Scores High In Sports – Supports Amateurs, Olympics, Development, Speakers Say 16/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Alongside last week’s meeting of the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee, the United States, European Union and Jamaica organised an event on the relevance of intellectual property in sports. Speakers from professional organisations such as the International Olympic Committee, the Association of European Professional Football Leagues, and the Nike company were invited to share their experience in the matter.
Brazilian Patent Reform Report Launched 15/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Infojustice.org reports: Last week, the report Brazilian Patent Reform: Innovation Towards Competitiveness was launched at an event at the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies.
WTO: Tobacco Plain-Packaging Battle Flares Up; Sports And IP Issues Take The Field 14/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee last week agreed on a draft decision on disputes that are not in direct violation of WTO IP rules but where one country’s measures negatively affect another country’s expected benefits. Plain packaging for tobacco products was also discussed as Ireland is preparing to introduce such a measure meant to discourage tobacco use, and some countries presented their views on the importance of IP rights in sports.
Perplexed About International Policy On GR, TK and TCEs? Here’s A Book 08/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Two scientists with a connection to Geneva have published an unorthodox e-book entitled, Guide for the perplexed entering the Maze of Genetic Resources Traditional Knowledge and Folklore.
Experts Envision Bringing Trade, Internet Communities Closer Together 08/10/2013 by Alessandro Marongiu for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Mutual understanding between the international trade community and internet stakeholders would be of great benefit to help adjust the multilateral trade regime to the rapidly changing landscape of the digital economy.
At WTO, Online Pharmacy Watchdog, Tobacco Industry Explain Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts 07/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center organised a panel during the World Trade Organization Public Forum last week to explore what industry sees as challenges of trade in the digital age. Three panellists presented concerns – mainly counterfeiting – and solutions they have put in place to address such challenges.