IP, Trade And Public Health Leaders Turn A Page In History Together 24/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The importance of multilateralism, continuing global public health gains with sufficient funding, and finding a balance between the worlds of trade, intellectual property and public health were among the top issues raised during the a daylong high-level meeting at the World Trade Organization.
WIPO SCCR Constructs Library Exceptions Topics For Discussion 23/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee today agreed on “clusters” of topics under which they will discuss topics related to limitations and exceptions to copyright for libraries and archives, with an eye toward a possible instrument in the future. And this evening, a special meeting of ambassadors was held with the World Blind Union and the International Publishers Association, aimed at bridging differences on a separate but related treaty proposal on limitations and exceptions for print-disabled readers.
“Marathon” WIPO Copyright Session Opens With Hopes, Treaty Prospects 22/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Officials from around the world have gathered for the next two weeks at the World Intellectual Property Organization in hopes of resolving the fate of several longstanding copyright policies under debate. The hope of many is that by the end of the copyright committee meeting starting yesterday, WIPO members will be on track to treaties or instruments on audiovisual performances, limitations and exceptions for print-disabled readers and for libraries and archives, and on broadcasters’ rights. And serious negotiations have already begun.
WIPO Development Committee Completes Work; Creates Technical Cooperation Review Group 18/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) successfully completed its eighth session tonight, making progress on a range of projects and agreeing to set up an ad hoc working group to examine an external report on the UN agency’s global provision of technical assistance.
Debate At WIPO Over Process For Technical Assistance Review 18/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization this week are slogging through a series of documents related to intellectual property and development. But one document, an external report on WIPO’s provision of technical cooperation assistance, has given way to a substantive discussion about how to fully address the report’s findings of the need for improvement at the UN agency.
WTO, WHO, WIPO To Discuss TRIPS And Health Declaration 17/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The heads of three international organizations in Geneva will address a meeting next week on the subject of 10 years after the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health. The 23 November symposium at the Graduate Institute in Geneva involves a range of top officials and experts on the issue.
WIPO: IP Policy Moves To Forefront Of Global Innovation 15/11/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has released its first report in what is expected to be a series of publications seeking to explain, clarify and contribute to policy relating to intellectual property. Its debut report, WIPO presented figures that show a growing global demand for patents, a soaring increase in licensing and royalty fees revenues, and an increase in low and middle-income economies’ share of global spending on research and development.
WIPO Development Committee Kicks Off With Compromise 15/11/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The eighth session of the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) opened this week with the close of its seventh session. Committee coordinators were still gathered in negotiations as the eighth session was due to begin on 14 November, hammering out a compromise on proposed meetings on South-South cooperation among developing countries.
WIPO Audit/Evaluation Process Comes Of Age, With A Development Side 11/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Evaluation and auditing of the World Intellectual Property Organization gained increased interest a few years ago when rich member countries responsible for most of its revenues became alarmed about questions of financial and human resources management. But now the UN agency’s sometimes bumpy evaluation process is maturing, including a development aspect, and has a new external report on its global technical assistance programmes.
The Mad Hatter In Wonderland: South Africa’s New TK Bill 08/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments So, the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) has finally gone ahead and done it. It has caused the South African Government to pass the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill (the so-called “Traditional Knowledge Bill”) despite vociferous objections from all quarters. It has rushed headlong into terrain where no angel would venture through acute trepidation. It has entered Wonderland and assumed the role of the Mad Hatter, writes Professor Owen Dean.