USPTO Lists Changes To Post-Grant Proceedings After This Week’s SAS Decision 27/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued guidance on changes to post-grant proceedings following the 24 April decision by the US Supreme Court in the SAS Institute v Iancu case. The Court ruled that the USPTO must decide the patentability of each claim that is challenged in petitions for inter partes review.
WIPO Members Energised On Protection of Country Names, GIs, New Technological Designs 26/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks concluded early today with plans for further work and a full week session for the next meeting. Member states are called into action to provide inputs so that the WIPO secretariat can come up with questionnaires on the protection of new technological designs, such as icons, and on the protection of geographical indications. Another issue for which member states are asked to contribute inputs in how to protect country and geographical names.
World IP Day: Women Are Celebrated But Gender Gap Persists 26/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The annual World Intellectual Property Day (26 April) is dedicated to women this year at the World Intellectual Property Organization. On the occasion, several countries are organising an exhibition and the screening of a film celebrating the life of Hedy Lamarr. Austrian/American actress who was also an inventor.
Medicines For Europe Conference Tackles Top Legal Issues For Generic Drug Makers 26/04/2018 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments LONDON — Biosimilars, supplementary protection certificates and European Patent Office patent quality are among the priority issues for the generic drug manufacturing sector, speakers said Wednesday at a Medicines for Europe conference.
US Supreme Court Rules Inter Partes Review Legal 24/04/2018 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Patent and Trademark Office inter partes reviews are legal and do not violate Article III of the Constitution or the 7th Amendment, the US Supreme Court said today. While the decision was expected, practitioners before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board can now rest easy, as one patent lawyer put it.
USPTO Seeking IP Attaché In New Delhi 24/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office has attachés around the world specialised in intellectual property issues, including but not limited to enforcement. The office today announced an opening for a new attaché to be located in New Delhi, India, a key post.
Interview With Dominik Thor, Founder Of IPCHAIN Database 20/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Distributed ledger technology, commonly called a Blockchain, has recently become a highly popular term in many different industries for its cost-saving and operational risk reducing potential. In this interview with Intellectual Property Watch, Dominik Thor, the founder of IPCHAIN Database, a startup that focuses on IP protection through the use of Blockchain, explains about the ways this new technology can revolutionise the IP sector.
USPTO Issues Notice Of Guidance On Subject Matter Eligibility 20/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The United States Patent and Trademark Office today issued a Federal Register notice providing guidance to patent examiners on patent subject matter. The office is seeking public comments on the new guidance.
Carlos Correa Named Head Of Intergovernmental South Centre 18/04/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Prof. Carlos Correa of Argentina, an influential academic whose analyses of patents and medicines access have informed debates and challenged the status quo for decades, has been named the next executive director of the South Centre. He will take over for Martin Khor, who will be retiring after nine years at the helm. Separately, former South African President Thabo Mbeki was named chair of the Board.
Dozens Of NGOs Oppose Proposed EU Watch List On IP Rights 16/04/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A wide-ranging list of international nongovernmental organisations today issued a letter to European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström opposing a proposal to establish a “watch list” of countries deemed failing to protect European intellectual property. The groups raised concern that the list would violate World Trade Organization rules on intellectual property, have a chilling effect on developing countries’ public health initiatives, and lead to expanded and untenable levels of IP enforcement.