WIPO Encourages Participation Of Women In Intellectual Property System 11/03/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments As the United Nations celebrated Women Day on 8 March, the World Intellectual Property Organization had an ongoing initiative to encourage women’s participation in a WIPO social media platform on technology and innovation. Kaori Saito, gender and diversity specialist in the WIPO Human Resources Management Department, and Tomasz Liharewski, program officer, WIPO Global Infrastructure Sector, sat down this week with Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez to describe what the initiative was about and its outcome.
European Commission Urged To Fix EU Law Before Addressing IPR Protections In Third Countries 09/03/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Efforts to revamp protection for and enforcement of intellectual property rights in non-EU countries are welcome, but the European Commission should get Europe’s IPR house in order first, a new draft report by the European Parliament International Trade (INTA) Committee says. Meanwhile, internal IPR reform is advancing on several fronts, said the EC, which gave Intellectual Property Watch an update on the various measures.
Revolving Chairs In The IP World: People Shift Positions. But Interests? Not So Much 06/03/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A lot has happened among the global intellectual property community over the past months. Beyond the usual shifts in law offices, many key positions have either changed hands or been filled. For example, the European commissioners changed, and the United States nominated a new “piracy czar” and a new head of the US Patent and Trademark Office. The International Telecommunication Union, UNITAID and other organisations have new heads. And the World Intellectual Property Organization has a new top management team. Non-governmental organisations and the private sector also saw a lot of movement in recent months, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the Computer & Communications Industry Association, the International Trademark Association, the International Publishers Association, and the Motion Picture Association of America. In this article, we take the opportunity to catch up. Here is a look at some of the changes.
At WIPO, Experts Look At Challenges, Solutions For Successful Tech Transfer 05/03/2015 by Elena Bourtchouladze for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Low levels of research and development in developing countries, human capital deficit and construction of balanced intellectual property systems were at the centre of discussions at the recent Expert Forum on Technology Transfer at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
EU IP Policy Proposals, Initiatives Come Clear At 20th European IP Forum 04/03/2015 by Magda Voltolini for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – A recent gathering of IP owners, lawyers and government officials explored strategies and potential policies to fight counterfeiting and piracy.
UK To Revamp Law On “Groundless Threats” Of Infringement Suits 26/02/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Recommendations for key reforms to laws against “groundless threats” of infringement lawsuits in patent, trademark and design rights cases won general UK government backing today. IP lawyers said the government’s stance will go far toward resolving longstanding concerns.
WTO Least-Developed Countries Request Waiver Of IP Rights On Pharma Products 25/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 13 Comments This week at the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee meeting, least-developed countries submitted a request to extend a waiver allowing them not to enforce intellectual property rights on pharmaceutical products. The countries have extended the waiver before, but this time they are seeking to make it indefinite, until they are no longer considered LDCs.
New Quiet Initiative To Improve Drug Access In Middle-Income Countries, Change Country Classification System 25/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments This week a confidential high-level expert meeting was convened in Geneva to start work on a potential change in the country classification used by global health actors to remedy the growing problem of access to medicines in middle-income countries.
Status Of WTO Wines And Spirits Register Discussed 24/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Trade Organization delegates were convened this week to discuss an international register for wines and spirits in the context of the organisation’s agreement on intellectual property. The discussion, dating back nearly 20 years, has long involved different views on the register, which were reaffirmed this week, according to sources in Geneva.
In 21st Century No One Should Die For Lack Of Access To Medicines, Participants At UN Forum Say 23/02/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Last week’s 2015 Social Forum led by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) called for urgent action to facilitate access to medicines. In particular, the functioning of the intellectual property system was put into question. A number of recommendations were drawn by the secretariat after having been identified by participants.