New WTO Draft Modalities Text On IP Issues Gathers Wider Support 18/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment [Note: IP issues may be the subject of meetings between ministers and WTO DG Lamy over this weekend, according to sources.] By Kaitlin Mara and William New A new draft of proposed modalities for negotiating three intellectual property issues at next week’s World Trade Organization ministerial shows that proponents have gathered the support of the […]
Flurry Of Copyright, Interoperability Policy Activity At European Union 17/07/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch In a flurry of intellectual property-related activity, the European Commission this week ordered copyright collecting societies to loosen their stranglehold on cross-border music licensing, proposed extending the term of copyright protection to 95 years, and launched debate on copyright exceptions on the internet. The Commission also adopted a […]
Panel: IP Rights In Standards Impede Competition, Disadvantage Developing Countries 17/07/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Catherine Saez Standards and intellectual property rights appear to be worlds apart and to respond to opposite purposes, according to a recent panel of legal and policy experts. While standards are established to ensure compatibility in technology to the advantage of all users at national, regional or international levels, intellectual property rights are meant […]
Modalities Drafted For WTO Geographical Indications, Biodiversity Amendment 15/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Kaitlin Mara A confidential draft text circulated recently among some World Trade Organization members reveals an attempt to consolidate separate proposals aimed at the protection of product names with location-related associations and characteristics (called geographical indications) and at the protection of biological diversity and traditional knowledge. Proponents appear to still be seeking support in […]
New Southern/East African Copyright Network Targets Protection, Local Innovation 15/07/2008 by Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Seventeen African ministers of arts and culture have officially launched the newly formed Southern and Eastern Africa Copyright Network (Seaconet) in a bid to strengthen regional collaboration and cooperation in the field of creative industries, copyright and related rights. “The need to create Seaconet is due to the […]
Intellectual Property: A Means To An Access And Benefit-Sharing End? 14/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Intellectual property is a useful leveraging tool for developing countries eager to see the creation of a global access and benefit-sharing regime on genetic resource use, said a recent panel on biodiversity protections in international law. “Benefit-sharing was viewed as an integral part of the main bargain between developed and developing countries” when the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was first formed, said Timothy Hodges, a Canadian official who co-chairs an access and benefit-sharing working group under the CBD.
Grupo de expertos: se necesitan políticas para impulsar la transferencia de tecnología a los PMA 11/07/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Catherine Saez La transferencia de tecnología a los países menos adelantados (PMA) se ha visto obstaculizada por diversos factores, entre ellos, la renuencia de empresas de países desarrollados a realizar negocios o inversiones extranjeras directas, la incapacidad de los PMA para incorporar la tecnología, y un sistema de informes ineficiente, según las conclusiones de […]
Advocates Say Geographical Indications Will Benefit Developing Nations 11/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Kaitlin Mara An association of producers of geographical indications – product names associated with a particular place and characteristics – is promoting the idea that extending the high-level protection of geographic indications currently enjoyed by wines and spirits to other goods (called GI extension) is in the interest of developing countries. GI extension is […]
Le système de propriété intellectuelle freine la science et l’innovation selon des lauréats du prix Nobel 09/07/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Par Dugie Standeford pour Intellectual Property Watch MANCHESTER, UK – Le système de propriété intellectuelle vise davantage à «fermer l’accès à la connaissance» qu’à permettre sa diffusion, a indiqué le Professeur Joseph Stiglitz lors d’une conférence intitulée “Who Owns Science?” (« À qui appartient la science » ?) qui a eu lieu le 5 juillet. […]
Patent Searches In Portuguese And The WIPO Development Agenda 08/07/2008 by Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch RIO DE JANEIRO – Last year, Brazil and India presented their candidacies and were accepted to operate as international authorities for patent searches at the World Intellectual Property Organization. In addition, Brazil suggested that the Portuguese language be considered for publications. The country will begin operating a patent […]