Global Broadband Commission Urges G20 To Act For Development 15/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Broadband Commission for Digital Development, a mixed public-private sector leaders group aimed at boosting high-speed internet availability in the developing world, today issued an open letter to the leaders of the Group of 20 urging action which the commission says will lead to greater socio-economic growth.
IP5 Patent Offices Strengthen Joint Work 06/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The heads of the world’s five largest intellectual property offices, who refer to themselves as the IP5, met today to discuss further efforts to improve quality and efficiency in patent examination, and harmonise patent systems. Joining them were industry representatives from each of the regions.
Rod Of Justice For French Internet Infringers May Soften 30/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The French “three-strike” law aimed at preventing illegal downloading of protected works on the internet, enacted in October 2009 after much controversy, may be modified by the newly elected French government, according to sources.
Russia’s Largest Social Network vKontakte Held Liable For Copyright Infringement 30/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The 13th Commercial Court of Appeal recently affirmed the decision of the Commercial Court of St. Petersburg in Russia’s leading P2P case ruling that the social network vKontakte, a Facebook lookalike, is liable for copyright infringement.
Golden Oldies? South African High Court Looks At What Is “Traditional” 29/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The question of the use of material in the public domain for the inspiration of new works has been complicated in South Africa by legislation which purports to grant retrospective perpetual protection to so-called “traditional works”. A case pending in the South African High Court highlights the question of what is “traditional” and raises the question of to whom music companies will have to look in the future to obtain permission to use anything that smacks of a traditional flavour. Prof. Owen Dean asks: Could this be a disincentive to use traditional material belonging in the public domain and thus slow cultural expression?
World Health Assembly: Member States Call For Acceleration On Pandemic Flu Preparedness 26/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment One year since the adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, member states emphasised the importance of bio-sharing initiative and in some in cases raised concerns about the pace of implementation.
World Health Assembly: Members Gavel New Mechanism To Fight Poor-Quality Medicines 26/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization member states have decided to establish a new mechanism for international collaboration to prevent and control “substandard, spurious, falsely-labelled, falsified and counterfeit medical products” (SSFFC). Excluding trade and intellectual property considerations, this mechanism is called to approach the problem strictly from a public health perspective.
World Health Assembly Draft Decision On NCDs 24/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Members of the World Health Organization tonight will consider a draft decision on how the organisation will address the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.
Nobel Laureate, Other Experts Hail WHO Effort On Medicines R&D Framework 22/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The annual World Health Assembly being held this week has a rare chance to achieve a breakthrough on health research for the global poor if it can agree to move forward on a proposed convention, proponents said at a recent meeting.
WIPO Committee On Law Of Patents Walks A Fine Line 22/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The law of patents is being discussed this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization with a focus on the potentially difficult issues of limitations and exceptions, high quality patents, and patents related to public health.