Former USTR Official Espinel Nominated US IP “Czar” 26/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A variety of industry and non-governmental groups today applauded the Obama administration’s announcement that Victoria A. Espinel would be nominated to be the first White House Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator. Espinel is a former assistant US Trade Representative for intellectual property and innovation who led US trade negotiations on IP. In 2007, after stepping down […]
USPTO-African Regional IP Organization Agreement 25/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The US Patent and Trademark Office today announced a bilateral agreement with the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the mainly English-speaking regional IP group in Africa. The agreement is focused on enforcement and protection, along with ease of filing for foreign and African patent applicants, according to a USPTO release. USPTO Director David Kappos […]
WIPO Approves CHF64 Million Conference Hall; Intensive Informals Held On Traditional Knowledge 25/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment How to handle the deadlocked negotiations on traditional knowledge remains a sticky decision at this year’s World Intellectual Property Organization General Assemblies, with four proposals on the table and informal meetings ongoing in advance of a formal discussion next week. Meanwhile, WIPO member governments this week agreed to fund a CHF64.2 million franc WIPO conference centre aimed for late 2012.
El destino de los conocimientos tradicionales: una decisión clave en las Asambleas de la OMPI 25/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment La Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) debe tener la capacidad de fijar normas para la innovación, desde los avances de la tecnología más recientes hasta los sistemas de conocimientos tradicionales, si desea conservar su reconocimiento en la formulación de políticas, expresó hoy el Director General en la apertura de la Asamblea General anual del organismo de las Naciones Unidas.
US Acts To Preserve Internet Neutrality; European Debate Heats Up 24/09/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment As the United States is moving to ensure that internet (net) neutrality is preserved in that country, some are hoping other regions of the world will take notice, particularly the European Union.
UN Conference Pushes Plant Breeding; Others See Food Security In Jeopardy 23/09/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments Participants at a recent United Nations conference on the role of new plant varieties and seeds in agriculture agreed that access to genetic resources and the protection of intellectual property rights are essential to sustain plant breeding. But key opponents not invited to the meeting claim that plant breeding will endanger biodiversity, sustainability and ultimately food security.
Request For Google Book Settlement Hearing Adjournment 23/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The final fairness hearing of a class action lawsuit against Google related to its book-scanning project will likely be adjourned at the request of the plaintiffs, the Authors Guild and the Association of American Publishers. A memorandum in support of the motion to adjourn says that as of 8 September about 400 objections to the […]
Panel: IP Offices Must Be Engaged To Implement Development Agenda 23/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization will need the help of national intellectual property offices – and need to listen to their needs as well – if Development Agenda implementation is to be effective outside of Geneva, participants on a panel said last week.
IP Protection Commitment In US Innovation Strategy 22/09/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment America’s “economic growth has rested for too long on an unstable foundation,” and it is now necessary to “redouble our efforts to give our world-leading innovators every chance to succeed,” reads the text of a White House innovation strategy that President Obama presented yesterday at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York. The strategy […]
Fate Of Traditional Knowledge A Key Decision At WIPO Assemblies 22/09/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization must be able to set norms for innovation, from the latest development in technology to traditional knowledge systems, if it is to retain its relevance in policymaking, said its director general at the opening of the UN agency’s annual General Assemblies today. A key decision on WIPO’s agenda this week is the future of its committee on the protection of traditional knowledge and genetic resources, where agreement has proved unreachable over the last year.