New Texts In Play In WIPO Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources Talks 12/05/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Negotiators trying this week to advance talks for UN World Intellectual Property Organization treaties on traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and folklore have made progress on draft texts, but are facing sharp criticism from indigenous groups and some governments claiming their concerns are being ignored.
Brazil’s Copyright Reform: Are We All Josef K.? 12/05/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments Discussions are heating up as never before on Brazil’s copyright reform, and controversies involving the new administration as well as the collecting society (ECAD)’s alleged wrongdoings are jeopardising the last eight years of Lula’s administration, according to an updated timeline and analysis by Pedro Paranaguá.
Nagoya Protocol: Key Signatories Take It Closer To Goal 12/05/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The protection of genetic resources from misappropriation, institutionalised in October 2010 by the Nagoya Protocol, is getting nearer to realisation as eight new countries ratified the protocol yesterday.
Educational Tools For Seed Treaty Actors 12/05/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The international seed treaty has launched a capacity building campaign under the form of educational modules to help a range of stakeholders better understand the treaty and its implementation.
WIPO Negotiators Work From New Text On Traditional Knowledge 11/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization delegates negotiating this week for a possible agreement on protection of traditional knowledge have advanced the text from which they are working, according to a copy obtained by Intellectual Property Watch. Meanwhile, the brand-name pharmaceutical industry sought to explain an alleged biopiracy case at a side event at WIPO today.
Reforms Needed To Open WIPO’s Door Wider To Development, Diplomat Says 11/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The adoption of a Development Agenda by the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization three years ago was seen by most as a success for developing countries and a sign that the organisation was assuming its role as a United Nations agency to a fuller extent. However, according to a lead official on Development Agenda implementation, there is still a long way to go and changes are needed.
Thorny Issues Remain In EU-India Trade Talks 10/05/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment According to European Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht, there are still thorny issues on the table in the ongoing EU-India free trade agreement talks, including intellectual property issues.
Panel: Indigenous Rights Integral To Treaty On Knowledge, Folklore and Genes 10/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Although indigenous peoples’ rights are recognised in a number of international declarations, the implementation of those rights is difficult to achieve, according to panellists at an event opening this week’s World Intellectual Property Organization negotiations toward a treaty to protect traditional knowledge, folklore and genetic resources.
ACTA Still Open To Interpretation, Legal Experts Say; Transparency Fight Ongoing 10/05/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is open for interpretation, perhaps too much so, legal experts on both sites of the Atlantic are warning.
Developing Countries Need Help To Get Research Results Patented, IP Proponent Says 10/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Developing countries are not taking advantage of discoveries made by their scientists and researchers because they lack an appropriate intellectual property infrastructure and expertise, according to a long-time United States proponent of IP rights speaking in Geneva last week. He called for development funds to be redirected to address these shortcomings rather than only supporting IP enforcement initiatives.