African Traditional Knowledge And Folklore Given IP Protection Despite Warning Of TK Commodification 12/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Some African nations signed a protocol on the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore at the beginning of August gaining the praise of the World Intellectual Property Organization. However, a United Nations report launched in January warned against the application of western legal and economic principles to collectively owned knowledge in traditional communities.
NGOs Warn On IP In Trans Pacific Trade Agreement 10/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A coalition of some two dozen non-governmental organisations yesterday sent a letter to the United States Trade Representative raising concern about the impact on access to medicines of intellectual property provisions in a regional, Asia-Pacific trade agreement, known as the Trans Pacific Partnership, which is under negotiation. The coalition led by Public Citizen warned against […]
EU Launches Survey Of Countries’ Deficiency In IP Enforcement 08/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Commission has launched its survey on intellectual property protection and enforcement in third countries. The survey is open until 31 October. Every two years the Commission conducts “a broad IPR enforcement survey,” that will serve, with other input, to establish a list of “priority countries” where counterfeiting and piracy are considered “a serious […]
European Commission Tells Parliament ACTA Must Be Minimal 08/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht today told the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg that it has become clear the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) could only be concluded by sticking to a minimum consensus. But this might result in some lack of effectiveness of the much-debated anti-counterfeiting trade agreement, he said. He reiterated […]
Treaty Negotiators Turn To “ACTA Lite” In Hopes Of Closure 08/09/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Everyone you ask this week about the Anti-Counterfeiting Agreement (ACTA) tells you that they’re just about to work their way through the new draft version to understand the implications of changes made during the recent negotiation round in Washington, DC. Massive changes to the text have been revealed by yet another leak of the draft treaty text being negotiated by 10 countries and the EU 27 member states.
Lack Of Transparency In EU-India FTA Talks Spurs Requests For Halt 03/09/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments European and Indian business not only have privileged access to information on the planned EU-India free trade agreement, they even set the agenda for this negotiation from the start. That is the conclusion of a study by the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and India FDI Watch published this week in Brussels and Delhi. Both organisations intend to appeal directly to the European Commission and the Indian government to stop negotiations as long as there is no access to negotiating positions and documents for all affected parties.
Human Survival Depends On Shared Technology, Says New UN Climate Chief 03/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In between climate change conferences, Christiana Figueres, newly appointed executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was in Geneva yesterday to attend a ministerial meeting convened by the Swiss and Mexican governments on climate change finance.
US Looking For New Tack On IP Rights With BRIC Countries 03/09/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Developed countries are looking for ways to address the ongoing lack of intellectual property enforcement and efforts to bypass international trade obligations in the four biggest emerging global economies, as well as emulation of this behaviour by other emerging economies in particular as the four countries have a stronger voice in international fora, a panel of United States trade experts said this week.
Third Try Set For CBD Biodiversity Benefit-Sharing Treaty 02/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The third attempt at concluding negotiations on a draft protocol text on international biodiversity access and benefit-sharing will take place in Montreal on 18-21 September, according to official sources. Delegates at the meeting will try to agree on the text, before the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) meeting in Nagoya, Japan, in October. […]
Brazil Copyright Reform Comment Period Ends With Push 02/09/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment There was significant activity at the close of the public comment period on Brazil’s proposed reform of its copyright law, according to blogger Volker Grassmuck, who has followed the reform effort closely. Grassmuck detailed a last minute rush in submissions on 31 August from a network of civil society and artists groups aiming to legalise […]