L’éditeur d’un logiciel open source accuse IBM de concurrence déloyale – IBM demande une analyse 26/04/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment IBM fait l’objet d’une plainte pour concurrence déloyale portée devant la Commission européenne par l’éditeur d’un logiciel open source, qui accuse le géant de l’informatique d’empêcher les consommateurs d’utiliser ce logiciel. Au même moment, la communauté open source craint que le fait qu’IBM, développeur de logiciels open source de premier plan, revendique ses droits de propriété intellectuelle pour barrer la route à un concurrent ne représente une menace pour les logiciels libres et open source, et ne conduise à anéantir les revendications de propriété intellectuelle émises par d’autres acteurs. IBM, pour sa part, réaffirme son soutien à la communauté open source et demande à l’entreprise concurrente d’expliquer dans quelle mesure le logiciel en question n’enfreint pas ses droits de propriété intellectuelle.
Medicrime: Another Anti-Counterfeiting Convention Emerges In Europe 24/04/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments While the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is getting a lot of attention with its draft consolidated version just published, there is another convention dealing with one major aspect it was always said ACTA would tackle. The Medicrime Convention of the Council of Europe sets the first international standard for criminalising the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeited medicine risking public health. And Medicrime will overtake ACTA, as the draft convention text is ready to be signed by the Committee of Ministers in May and be opened for signature in November.
Shareholders In 3G Mobile Patent Company Seek US Investigation Of Nokia, Ericsson 23/04/2010 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Two shareholders in a Pennsylvania company with patents key to third generation (3G) mobile communications want the US Department of Justice to investigate European mobile phone manufacturers Nokia and Ericsson and others for failing to pay royalties for use of the technology. Antitrust scrutiny is needed to prevent the same thing from happening as the next generation of mobile phones rolls out, Richard Monahan and Kent Greene say.
Brazil, US Signed Memorandum On Cotton Dispute 23/04/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments On 20 April, Brazil and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a fund that “will transfer resources to benefit the cotton sector in Brazil,” according to a Brazilian government press release. The MOU is “part of the path forward for the cotton dispute that the United States and Brazil reached earlier […]
New WHO Faces On IP, Innovation; Matsoso Named South Africa Health Director 23/04/2010 by William New and Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization’s team on issues of intellectual property and innovation in public health is seeing changes in key personnel, as implementation of the UN health agency’s plan on IP and innovation hits its stride. Malebona Precious Matsoso has been named Director General of Health for South Africa.
Panellists See Critical Moment For International Policy On Biodiversity And Trade 23/04/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Negotiations to protect and preserve biodiversity are in a delicate place, as proponents of stronger protection attempt to navigate parallel discussions at different intergovernmental agencies.
Ecuador Grants First Compulsory Licence, For HIV/AIDS Drug 22/04/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments Ecuador this month granted its first compulsory licence for a patented pharmaceutical since declaring last year that it would utilise international rules allowing it to do so. The move has already brought the country substantial savings due to new competition, according to the Ecuadorean intellectual property office. Other Latin American countries might be drawn to the prospect of reduced drug prices, according to advocates. The rights owner said it is disappointed with the decision.
Senators Seek US Investigation Of China’s IP Infringement 22/04/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (Democrat, Montana) and ranking member Chuck Grassley (Republican, Iowa) this week requested a US government investigation of the effect of China’s IP rights infringement on American jobs. They allege China’s infringement is estimated to cost hundreds of thousands of American jobs per year and sent a letter […]
Free Software Used To Fight Piracy, Broaden Knowledge Access In Ecuador 22/04/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A joint project being launched by a regional non-profit group along with the Ecuador’s intellectual property office (IEPI) aims to reduce software piracy by offering a free software alternative through public libraries. The initiative is meant to encourage the use of legal software and thereby lower the piracy rate.
Obama Administration Tells Senate It Supports Patent Reform Changes 21/04/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Obama administration supports changes to the United States patent reform bill, said US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke in a letter sent late yesterday to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The amendments in question would allow the US Patent and Trademark Office to adjust fees to cover the actual costs of patent processing […]