Indigenous Groups Tell WIPO, ‘Don’t Patent Our Traditional Knowledge’ 06/12/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This week, a key World Intellectual Property Organization committee is debating policies related to the protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions (folklore) and genetic resources with an eye to helping local communities, often indigenous, get the full market value and public use of their traditions through fair negotiations with outside patent applicants. But some […]
Balancing Patents and Standards Seen As Key For Mobile Phone Industry 01/12/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Technology companies have long recognised the importance to their economic growth of patents and standards, but increasingly they are focusing on the intersection of the two in order to seek changes to the patent system, industry experts told an event at the World Intellectual Property Organization on 29 November. The presenters were Tim Frain, director of IPR in the regulatory affairs department of Nokia Corporation, and Paul Davey, director of intellectual property at the Vodafone Group. Both industry representatives encouraged government officials in the audience to consider legislative remedies to problems they perceive in patents interfering with standards related to technological innovation. Davey and Frain discussed concerns that some holding licenses for technology may not be willing to recognise the need for access to standard-related patents in order to ensure the interoperability of technologies. Frain argued that the current patent regime “may no longer be sufficient,” and suggested a legislative change might be necessary.
Developed Countries Keep Patent Harmonisation Issue Alive 29/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen At a Tokyo meeting last week of the developed countries of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the issue of patent harmonisation was kept alive though no specific decisions were reached, a source said. Kenichiro Natsume of the Japanese mission told Intellectual Property Watch that the group, referred to as […]
Revelan la estrategia de los países desarrollados sobre armonización de patentes y políticas sobre la OMPI 14/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen y William New El informe del grupo de países desarrollados de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) sobre una reunión celebrada en septiembre revela la estrategia encubierta de ese grupo sobre armonización de patentes, el Programa de la OMPI para el Desarrollo propuesto y la gobernanza de la […]
Group B+ Draft Patent Harmonisation Treaty Emerges 07/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By William New and Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The wealthy members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have created a draft patent harmonisation treaty to be negotiated outside WIPO in the hope of removing basic differences in national and regional practices. But while the countries say they have the momentum and political will to […]
Developed Countries Speed Up Patent Harmonisation Outside WIPO 06/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen With the United Nations negotiations on harmonising international patent law in deadlock, a group of developed countries has agreed on a basis for its internal discussion, according to a draft meeting report. The group’s plan involves three steps and represents a breakthrough 18 months after they began discussions, it said. […]
Global Pharmaceutical Industry Launches Ethics Code, Highlights Importance Of Patents 20/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen As part of its greater focus on accountability and transparency, the global pharmaceutical industry will launch a new code of marketing ethics next year, it announced at its recent biennial meeting in Geneva. Meanwhile, its stand in support of patents will remain unchanged, although its strategy was challenged at the […]
Novartis Persists With Challenge To Indian Patent Law Despite Adversity 19/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Following the rejection of a patent application for one of its medicines, Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis has taken the “unprecedented action” of challenging India’s patent law in a high court, arguing that it is unconstitutional as well as in breach of international trade law, it said. “The filing of writ […]
European Parliament Agrees To Patent Reform Plan With Amendments 13/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The European Parliament yesterday agreed by a large majority to the European Commission’s plan of going forward with talks on patent reform in Europe, but with a number of amendments to the current plan aimed at ensuring “democratic control” of the process, according to the Parliament. The vote concerned whether […]
European Parliament To Vote On Future Patent Policy Resolution 12/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen [Editor’s Note, 12 October: Parliament passed the resolution, with amendments, according to informed sources. Details to follow soon.] Members of the European Parliament will vote on 12 October on a resolution that would give the European Commission the green light to further explore changes to European patent policy. But the […]