Brazilian Draft Law Would Curb Expanded Patents On Pharmaceuticals 02/12/2008 by Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment [Update from the author: Brazil announced on 19 December adoption of the resolution against the extension of patent rights to second-use drugs and polymorphs. Such patents were seen as subterfuges from the pharmaceutical companies to expand their patent rights. The inter-ministry intellectual property group met on 1 December, but only announced the result on 19 […]
Peer To Patent System May Become Model For Patent Offices 01/12/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch A pilot patent peer review system in the United States could serve as a model for patent offices around the globe. New York Law School, in cooperation with the US Patent and Trademark Office, is in its second year of Peer To Patent, an innovative initiative that opens the patent examination process to public participation. The online system allows the public to supply prior art to assess the claims of pending patent applications. The goal is to provide patent examiners with as much information as possible, and ultimately increase the quality of approved patents.
EU Favours Disclosure Of Computer Patents Before Standards Are Set 20/11/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – Computer firms may be required to divulge details of patents they hold before technology standards are set, a senior European Commission official has said. More than a year after the European Court of Justice ruled that Microsoft was abusing its dominant position in order to prevent its products being compatible with programmes developed by rivals, Brussels policymakers are continuing to assess what implications the judgment has for intellectual property and antitrust law.
Trilateral IP Offices Under New Pressure To Harmonise Patent Processing 13/11/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – Patent offices are facing heat from industry to make good on promises to coordinate global processing of patent applications. Despite years of talk of streamlining the handling of applications, reducing duplication and creating more reliable international patents, agencies have failed to move ahead, Air […]
Bilski Ruling Moves US Closer To Global Norms For Patenting 06/11/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Compared with other countries, the United States has had a much more expansive view of what inventions can be patented. Late last week, however, the US took one big step closer to international norms. It happened on 30 October, when the US Federal Circuit Court of Appeals – often called the country’s “patent court” – issued its decision in In re Bilski.
Biotech, Pharma Industries To Target IP Protection Legislation, Patent Reform 26/09/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch When the new administration and Congress come into office following the November elections in the United States, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries will prioritise protection of their intellectual property and innovative biological drugs as the push for cheaper, generic versions gets stronger. Patent reform also will continue to be a lobbying priority, as well as making sure intellectual property is protected in any forthcoming international trade agreements.
“IP5” Biggest Patent Offices Meet As WIPO Assembly Proceeds On Policies 25/09/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Top officials from the world’s five biggest patent offices met Wednesday night in Geneva to discuss ways to further harmonise their activities, United States Patent Commissioner John Doll told Intellectual Property Watch. Meanwhile, members of the World Intellectual Property Organization gave direction to committees on enforcement, copyright, and traditional knowledge and genetic […]
US IP Industry Group Pushes ‘Green’ Patents; Adopts Resolution On Compulsory Licences 11/09/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch BOSTON – More companies have joined a global effort to improve the environment by pledging “green” patents for use in the public domain. Meanwhile, a US IP law group passed a resolution on IP and public health, including provisions urging restriction of compulsory licences.
US Judge: US Patent Law Destabilising; ‘Right To Patent’ Under Attack 10/09/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch BOSTON – Patent law in the United States is in danger of becoming “highly destabilised” as well-funded competing interests try to vie for legislators’ ears in Washington, a federal judge said Tuesday. Speaking here to participants at the Harvard Law School Conference on Intellectual Property Law, the Hon. Paul R. Michel, chief circuit judge for the US Court of Appeals for the federal circuit, said such a disruption could have huge consequences for inventions, investment, property of individual companies, and economies.
Top IP-Owning Nations Claim Faster Patent Processing; Near Harmonisation Deal 10/09/2008 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch BOSTON – Japan next month will roll out a new patent process which aims to examine a patent application anywhere from two weeks to one month from receipt of request. Meanwhile, the United States said patent harmonisation among top IP countries is near, and a client privilege treaty was discussed.