Kenya In Drive To Get Artisans, Designers To Embrace IP 13/09/2016 by Maina Waruru for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — At a market stall in Kariokor some 300 metres from Kenya’s capital Nairobi city centre, Stephen Musyoka is busy at work making covers for handwoven baskets, a traditional sisal fibre shopping basket known as Kiondo made by older women from different communities in Kenya.
Survey Finds Promising Future, Major Challenges For Augmented And Virtual Reality 13/09/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Optimism is said to exist about the future of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) following a survey completed by over 650 respondents in the industry. Though growth and investment are anticipated, concerns about a lack of compelling content and cost and issues with the user experience were among the survey’s key findings. Legal risks were identified as well, with the highest percentage relating to technology and intellectual property licensing.
Global Brand Offers Window Into Africa’s Intellectual Property Rights 09/09/2016 by Munyaradzi Makoni for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, South Africa — For 30 years, Nandos, a South African, Portuguese-themed eatery, has made its brand, poking fun at politicians, laughing at the madcaps of society, throwing innuendos with joyful abandon and filling tummies with peri-peri chicken.
ITU Capacity-Building Symposium Discusses Internet Governance, Collaboration 09/09/2016 by Justus Wanzala for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — Strong linkages and structured collaborative initiatives between the academia and industry in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector are key to enhancing capacity building in rapidly growing sector across the globe, a United Nations-led event here this week has said.
Specialized IP Courts: Recognizing Country-Specific Needs Is Complex 08/09/2016 by Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In light of the growing global “innovation market” and the rapid development of technologies, countries have reviewed and modernised their judicial systems to address the increase in intellectual property issues. Notably, the establishment of specialized IP courts has been a prominent feature of judicial mechanisms to resolve IP disputes.
A Principle Of Balance: Top Official Explains India’s IP Policy 07/09/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Adopted in May, the first Indian intellectual property policy brought some concerns that the focus on IP rights might dampen India’s willingness to use the IP flexibilities to safeguard national policy space. It was also perceived by some as giving in to pressure from the foreign pharmaceutical industry for India to strengthen patent protection. However, a high level Indian official in an interview this week said the policy caters to Indian development needs and India is aware of its pioneering role in certain sectors like access to medicines. Rajiv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary at the Indian Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion Ministry of Commerce & Industry sat down with Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez to describe how India’s IP policy came into being, to what aim, what it is expected to change in the Indian IP landscape, and how Indian is standing fast to its principle of balance.
UNITAID Issues Call For Solutions To Overcome IP Barriers 06/09/2016 by Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments UNITAID, the drug financing mechanism, has put out an appeal calling for ideas on solutions to overcome intellectual property barriers that may be preventing progress in public health. The deadline for submissions is coming near.
IP Offices Focus On Educating Younger Population About IP Protection 06/09/2016 by Catherine Saez and Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property rights awareness campaigns are increasingly targeting the younger population, as early as primary school, according to several country presentations at the World Intellectual Property Organization enforcement committee this week. WIPO is also developing an Education Took Kit for teachers of children aged 5 to 18. However for some countries, this education should encompass a broader view on IP than only enforcing rights.
Blockchain Technology Raises Challenging IP Issues, Say Speakers 05/09/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Blockchains, such as the well-known bitcoin, are not yet well-defined but are creating a lot of hype, speakers at a 23 August Intellectual Property Owners’ Association webinar said. Two things are clear so far, they said: the technology is in its infancy, and there are lots of unresolved questions about what is patentable and how IP laws intersect with the mostly open source software used in the systems.
Industry Proposals Contrary To Spirit Of Marrakesh Treaty, Libraries Say 02/09/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments An international group of librarians has warned that rights holder organisations in some countries are promoting provisions that restrict and impede the access envisaged by the Marrakesh Treaty providing exceptions to copyrighted works for visually impaired persons.