On Eve Of TRIPS Council, Experts Promote Benefits Of IP For Small Enterprises 19/10/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The importance of intellectual property protection for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the challenges they might encounter to ensure that protection was the focus of an event organised this week by a group of developed and middle-income countries at the World Trade Organization. According to the group, the event aimed at drawing connections between IP policies that are under discussion in the WTO IP committee.
“WTO Must Not Be The Odd One Out” – Members Revive Talks On GIs, Genetic Resources 19/10/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of a 2008 World Trade Organization coalition are trying to rekindle a negotiation to provide the same level of protection granted to wines and spirits to other geographical indications, and to grant intellectual property protection to genetic resources and traditional knowledge. The discussion might not make it to the December WTO ministerial, but the group hopes to open a “fresh window” for discussion.
EU To Get Rid Of Big Pharma-Friendly SPCs 18/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Extended monopoly protection by the Regulation EC 469/2009 concerning the supplementary protection certificate (SPC) mechanism for medicinal products has led to spiralling prices in Europe for lifesaving medicines, while exhausting the national budgets and depriving patients of fair access to treatments. The EU Commission should repeal the SPCs and put in practice the recommendations signed on 8 September 2017 by thirty-three civil society organisations, in alignment with the final report of the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines, writes Daniele Dionisio.
Early Whispers Of Next WIPO Director General Election Cycle 16/10/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It’s safe to say most delegates at the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assemblies this month gave no thought to the next election for the director general of the UN agency. It’s not surprising, as it is still years away and was not on the agenda this year. But it was surprising to hear a few delegates in the hallways utter the first very early whispers about what the next election might look like. So Intellectual Property Watch talked to delegates and looked at the possible timeline for the next election for the top post at WIPO.
Reckoning With The “System Battistelli” 16/10/2017 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment MUNICH — Considerable quality problems in the examination and processing of patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO) were deplored by a group of patent attorneys during a visit of the new Chair of the EPO Administrative Board, Christoph Ernst, from the German Ministry of Justice, to the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research in Munich. Meant as a presentation of Ernst’s thoughts on “the future of the European patent system,” the debate developed into a harsh reckoning of the “System Battistelli.”
JPO Issues First Decision To Register Sound Trademark Consisting Solely Of Sound Element 16/10/2017 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On 26 September, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced, for the first time ever, the grant of protection to three sound trademarks consisting solely of a sound element, writes Masaki Mikami.
WIPO General Assembly Wrap: Many Decisions Made, But External Offices, Design Treaty Left Hanging 13/10/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After an intense 10 days of negotiations, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates this week managed to close all items of the organisation’s annual General Assemblies, with major decisions taken, such as the approval of the 2018/2019 budget, and a new mandate and work programme for the committee on the protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. However the inability to decide at the ambassador level which countries would host new WIPO field offices, and on the convening of a high-level negotiation to conclude a treaty on industrial designs, led to some teeth grinding.
Cancer Group Recommendations To Ensure Medicines Access In South Africa Draft IP Policy 13/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A US cancer group has provided a series of recommendations to the South African government on ways to improve the country’s draft national intellectual property policy, including greater transparency, voluntary licensing, and the use of compulsory licences.
WIPO Delegates Agree On Budget For 2 Years; US Still Vigilant On GI Treaty 11/10/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the last day of the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, delegates today found a way to agree on the issues blocking the adoption of the 2018/2019 budget. In particular delegates found a way to address requests made by the United States on the program and budget, notably on the financing of the WIPO agreement protecting geographical indications.
WIPO: Rise In Retirement Age Delayed 2 Years; LGBT Workers Get Protection 11/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization will increase the retirement age to 65 for all workers starting in 2020, one year earlier than it had proposed but still a delay aimed at freeing up some job posts through earlier retirements.