European Parliament Decides In Favour Of TTIP Mandate And “New ISDS” 08/07/2015 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 10 Comments The European Parliament today voted in favour of its own mandate for the negotiations of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, a broad free trade agreement between its 28 member states and the United States. With 436 yes versus 241 no votes (32 abstentions), the Parliament adopted a resolution that also gives green light to the hotly debated investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), albeit a new version of it.
Panel: Paradigm Shift In Film Watching Has Created Need For New Finance, Distribution Models 08/07/2015 by Ani Mamikon for Intellectual Property Watch and Rishi Dhir for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment People are becoming increasingly mobile. With that, there are new expectations and needs. Video-on-demand industry experts told a recent event at the World Intellectual Property Organization that this represents a “change of paradigm,” requiring new models for financing and distributing films.
New Report Documents How Mobile Fundamentally Changed Internet Use 07/07/2015 by Rishi Dhir for Intellectual Property Watch and Ani Mamikon for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new report released today shows how mobile technology has fundamentally transformed internet access and use. The report gives forecasts and makes recommendations for policymakers going forward. Among the findings is the rapid rise in dependence on apps, which can raise security, privacy, competition, and cost concerns, as well as issues of availability of locally relevant content online.
At WIPO, Performers Make Case For More Help, Visual Artists Seek Resale Right 02/07/2015 by Catherine Saez, Ani Mamikon for Intellectual Property Watch and Rishi Dhir for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment While the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on copyright was discussing the protection of broadcasting organisations this week, performers lobbied for fair remuneration in the digital age. Visual artists, for their part, campaigned member states for a new treaty to be considered to protect their resale rights. Image Credits: Rishi Dhir
Report: New Technologies For Visually And Hearing Impaired People Lack Commercialisation 01/07/2015 by Catherine Saez, Ani Mamikon for Intellectual Property Watch and Rishi Dhir for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A World Intellectual Property Organization patent landscaping report launched this week shows that although a large number of patents have been granted on technologies aimed to help visually and hearing impaired persons, most of them have not been commercialised yet.
WIPO: Databases To Protect GRs, TK, Useful But Some Controversy 29/06/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In the quest to find solutions to protect traditional knowledge and genetic resources from misappropriation, some countries have resorted to private databases to be used by patent examiners. Indigenous peoples are wary of the process primarily because they are not sure their knowledge will remain safe in those databases. Speakers at a World Intellectual Property Organization this week discussed the pros and cons of such defensive protection.
Shared Genetic Resources And Traditional Knowledge: National, Regional Efforts 26/06/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The issue of genetic resources or traditional knowledge that are shared among different countries was discussed at a World Intellectual Property Organization seminar this week. Panellists presented national and regional efforts to protect such resources.
WIPO Seminar Looks At Protection Of TK, Genetic Resources Across Borders 25/06/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Keen on maintaining momentum in the discussions on the protection of traditional knowledge and genetic resources, while the normative agenda on the issue is suspended, the World Intellectual Property Organization is holding a seminar on the subject this week.
Secret Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Takes Centre Stage In Asia 24/06/2015 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), part of US President Barack Obama’s promised pivot to Asia, has stirred up a hornet’s nest on the ethics of trying to hammer out a trade deal in secrecy. But it is not the only one. A proposed trade agreement in Asia, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), is facing the same hiccups and flak.
WIPO Roving Seminars Reach Out To Stakeholders In Developed Countries 18/06/2015 by Eimear Murphy for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has initiated a programme of reaching out to stakeholders in developed countries with “roving seminars” on WIPO services and initiatives. The programme targets potential WIPO customers, promotes local IP services and offices, and promotes intellectual property protection.