US Copyright Industry Submits On Special 301 Review 17/02/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Intellectual Property Alliance, representing much of the US copyright industry, has submitted its allegations of foreign governments’ inadequate protection of US IP rights to the annual Special 301 process of the US Trade Representative’s office. In all, 48 nations are named, and key targets again include China, Russia and Canada. IIPA release here […]
US Congress, Lobbyists Renew Patent Reform Slog With Focus On Damages 17/02/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments With patent reform expected to be introduced sooner rather than later in this 111th United States Congress, calculating damages for infringement remains one of the main sticking points.
GlaxoSmithKline CEO Calls For Patent Pool 13/02/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Andrew Witty, CEO of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, said in a speech Friday at Harvard Medical School that GSK will contribute to a patent pool intended to increase innovation on medicines for neglected diseases. A Reuters story on the event is available here.
New Draft Ethiopian IP Law, Says Local Newspaper 13/02/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) has finished a draft intellectual property law that would help pave the way for fuller membership in the Geneva institutions, according to a local news source from the country. The unconfirmed article says EIPO will present the draft law to the Ethiopian government in the coming months.
EPO Taps Indian Traditional Knowledge Database 13/02/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, India’s online repository of traditional knowledge prior art, will now be available for the European Patent Office to use in its patent grant procedure. The digital library translates information from several languages, including Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Sanskrit, and Urdu, into English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish to help prevent misappropriation […]
US Debates Patent Exam Deferrals; Patent Reform Bill Expected This Year 13/02/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is considering a deferred-examination procedure to help reduce the backlog of the more than 770 million patent applications that have not yet been looked at. And the US Congress may be willing to help give the agency the authority to do so in this year’s patent-reform legislation.
Internet Governance Policy In 2009: Transition To New Digital Oversight 12/02/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This year could be a transitional one for global internet governance policy, as the internet’s technical oversight body may finally lose its ties to the United States, the next generation internet comes into its own, the UN Internet Governance Forum will be reviewed, and the world could see the rapid spread of new internet domains.
Sports Federations Keep Up Defence Against Possible IP Infringers 12/02/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Constant vigilance is needed to protect intellectual property rights in sports from creative efforts by “ambush marketers” and others seeking to take unauthorised advantage of sports events, event organisers say.
Proponents Explore Designs For Prizes To Aid Neglected Disease Research 12/02/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Health Organization global strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property calls for the exploration of alternative mechanisms to incentivise research and development, including the use of prize funds. A diverse group of non-governmental agencies, government and pharmaceutical industry representatives recently looked at prize funds in detail, to determine different possible approaches and where they might best be applied to medical innovations.
Five Ways To Handle “Brand Identity Crisis” 11/02/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment How to handle the media when a brand identity crisis erupts? The Brand Protection Council (BP Council) counts 5 ways: 1. Get back to basics with the “3 Rs” – Regret, Reassurance and Remedy 2. Have a crisis response plan on reserve 3. Ensure rapid response 4. Control the story 5. Stay up to date […]