Analysis: Move To Contain Global Challenge By Ascending China At Play In Escalating Trade War Between Washington And Beijing 19/09/2018 by John Zarocostas for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The latest escalation in US-Sino trade tensions following the announcement by President Donald Trump on 17 September that the US will slap 10 percent punitive tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods imports effective on 24 September and increase them to 25 percent on 1 January 2019, and China’s counter-salvo announced on 18 September to impose tariffs of between 5 and 10 percent on $60 billion worth of US goods imports to kick in on 24 September may prove difficult to ease back from the brink.
Hackers For Good, Gathering Stakeholders To Find Answers To Cyberspace Challenges 18/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For a number of people, the word hacker means bad news. However, if some hackers have malevolent intentions, there are also hackers for good, and their skills were put to the challenge last week as they tried to save a fictitious city fallen into the hands of a group of cyber terrorists. The challenge was part of a two-day event organised by a young Geneva-based non-governmental organisation seeking to raise awareness about digital trust and bring accountability to cyberspace.
Negotiated Deal For UN Tuberculosis Declaration Stands 18/09/2018 by David Branigan, Intellectual Property Watch 15 Comments The negotiated deal over the language of the United Nations political declaration on tuberculosis, a landmark in the fight against TB, has been maintained by member states and was finalised on 14 September, marking the end of intense negotiations over language on intellectual property flexibilities in the document.
WIPO, Global Protector Of Creators’ Rights, Hosts A Sizeable Art Collection Itself 13/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment International organisations are the repository of many works of art, but little is known by the public of their vast collections. The UN’s World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva hosts over 500 works of art, some of them displayed in public spaces, most of them in storage, their value unclear. They have been gathered since the inception of the organisation, before it became WIPO in 1970, most of them given or loaned. What is considered works of art include a diversity of items. The most unusual and rare, a piece of the moon, sits in full view in a glass display in a lobby.
European Parliament Approves Negotiating Stance On Copyright Reform 12/09/2018 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment European Union lawmakers today approved by a 438-226 margin a measure updating EU copyright law and voted to begin negotiations with the European Commission (EC) and Council. The vote followed parliamentary rejection in June of plans to launch an immediate “trilogue” with the EC and Council based on text as approved by the lead Legal Affairs Committee (JURI), instead sending the measure for full debate at the September plenary held today.
Shhh … UN Declaration On Tuberculosis Draft Text Out For Approval 11/09/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Negotiators’ agreed draft text for a United Nations political declaration on ending tuberculosis worldwide has been posted for all member states to see, and negotiators hope, not comment on. Under a UN procedure, the text has been placed “under silence” until 10:00am New York time on 14 September. If no one breaks the silence, the text is considered agreed and will advance to the High-Level Meeting on tuberculosis on 26 September as part of the annual UN General Assembly.
Should The WIPO Director General Fly First Class? 11/09/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment There are often big issues at stake at the global center for international intellectual property policy in Geneva, but sometimes, the nearly 200 governments that direct the UN World Intellectual Property Organization have to ask themselves questions like, should the director general of WIPO get to fly around the world first-class? Turns out, the answers can vary, but for now, he can carry on.
UN Human Rights Council Begins; Freedom Of Expression Issues Highlighted By Article 19 Group 10/09/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Today, the UN Human Rights Council begins its 39th Session (HRC 39) in Geneva – over the next three weeks the UN’s top human rights body will come together to discuss and act on some of the world’s most pressing human rights violations and abuses, writes civil society group Article 19. There is a lot on the HRC’s agenda for September, with a number of issues important to the right to freedom of expression to be considered, and it is essential that the Council acts on improving protections. In addition to important reports from OHCHR and from special procedures up for discussion, several thematic and country-specific resolutions will also be negotiated, to be considered for adoption on 20 and 21 September.
WIPO Program And Budget Committee Meeting Topics: New Projects, Reform, Rise In Expenses 07/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Program and Budget Committee, one of the main governing bodies of the organisation, will meet next week to finalize a range of issues on the functioning and work of the UN agency for the year. If WIPO has an insolently good financial status for a United Nations organisation, auditors still made a number of recommendations including on the trademark system managed by WIPO, the rental of space to third parties, the recording of works of art in the building, and late travel authorisations.
Students, Activists, Swarm To Demand UCLA Drop Indian High Court Patent Claim 06/09/2018 by David Branigan, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Thousands of students have urged a major research university in the United States to drop a patent claim in India related to an important cancer medicine, with the aim of making affordable versions available.