Special Report: Geneva, Public Health Capital Of The World 30/08/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment International public health in Geneva is no longer just the province of the World Health Organization. Dozens of intergovernmental and non-governmental agencies, along with financing organisations and partnerships, have headquartered their operations in Geneva, making the mid-sized Swiss city a public health capital of the world. Many of these organisations are engaged in addressing the critical interface between public health, development and innovation, including intellectual property rights. The following is a backgrounder and guide to many of the organisations working on these issues in town.
Proposed WIPO Strategic Plan Shows Positioning For Uncertain Future 16/08/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The importance of knowledge is increasing at a rate faster than patent offices can keep up with the demands of new inventors, reads the introduction to a proposed six-year strategic plan of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Creators and manufacturers of knowledge products are rapidly diversifying geographically, new innovation models are arising, and new demands are being placed on protected works for use in technology transfer or for shared global needs such as environmental sustainability or public health.
August/September Edition Of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Now Available 10/08/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Intellectual Property Watch Monthly Edition features top news on international IP policymaking, the latest on who is coming and going in the international IP community, news briefs and more. The August/September edition is now available for subscribers at: http://www.ip-watch.org/user/newsletter.
Coverage Of Anti-Counterfeit Policy Debate Varies Widely Across Global Media 02/08/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Are counterfeit products first and foremost a threat to human health and safety or is provoking anxiety just a clever way for wealthy nations to create sympathy for increased protection of their intellectual property rights? In Geneva the debate is raging, but a look at a sample of coverage of this issue in the world’s news media shows it can vary greatly.
Experts, Policymakers Debate Solutions For Counterfeit Products 30/07/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A group of policymakers and other experts met this month in Geneva to discuss counterfeit and unsafe products and wrestled with possible balanced solutions to the problem. The event was hosted by the United States mission and supported by the US Chamber of Commerce. It included US Ambassador to the UN Betty E. King, among dozens of others.
Global AIDS Conference Sees Pledge Of Access, Call For Funding; IP Rights Discussed 28/07/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The global AIDS community meeting in Vienna last week ended with renewed determination to fight the epidemic but underlined an urgent need for increased funding to sustain scientific advances and universal access. Some warned against an intellectual property rights enforcement push threatening global access in particular through bilateral and regional trade agreements.
USPTO Seeks Comments On Post-Bilski Guidelines 28/07/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has posted supplemental interim guidance for the patent examining corps to use when determining subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101 in light of the US Supreme Court’s holding in Bilski v. Kappos (IPW, IP Law, 29 June 2010). The new guidelines can be found in […]
Is USPTO 3-Track Plan TRIPS Non-Compliant? 28/07/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new proposal from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a “Three Track” system for patent examination may violate US obligations under the World Trade Organization Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement, US IP lawyer Harold Wegner, a partner at Foley & Lardner, has argued. The “Three-Track” programme would provide […]
US Second Circuit Decision Opens Questions Of Transformative And Fair Use 27/07/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A recent US court decision introduces entirely new questions about the balance between a transformative work and a copyright infringement. It also places the responsibility of balancing the public interest in freedom of expression against the interests of rights holders squarely in the hands of the court, writes Leslee Friedman.
Consensus On Binding Biodiversity Agreement Elusive, To Reconvene in September 20/07/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A last-chance negotiation of a draft protocol text on biodiversity access and benefit-sharing has been given yet another chance as delegates parted ways on Friday in Montreal without an agreement but with a tentative plan to reconvene to try to tie it up before a major UN Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in October.