Original news and analysis on international IP policy
The World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly today renewed the mandate of its committee working on the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. The full membership approved a deal reached in an informal session on 27 September, and statements made today showed that profound differences remain.
The European Patent Office released a study today on the impact of intellectual property rights on the European economy, finding that some 40 percent of the total economic activity in the European Union is generated by “intellectual property rights-intensive industries.”
As many as 300 members of the staff of the World Intellectual Property Organization have supported a petition urging the WIPO director general to withdraw a proposed amendment to the internal justice system at the UN agency, according to informed sources. The petition calls on WIPO member states to reject the proposed changes.
Two candidates to lead the UN World Intellectual Property Organization from 2014 to 2020 have been formally nominated by their governments in the past week. And according to sources, others are being considered.
The upcoming meeting of the World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property includes a newcomer on the agenda. The European Union, Jamaica, Mexico and the United States have requested an agenda item on intellectual property and sports.
The World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body has established a panel on a complaint by Honduras against Australia's measure to require tobacco to be sold in plain packaging as a public health measure.
Differences on how nations view patent law and the need for more international harmonisation became apparent this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization annual General Assembly.
World Intellectual Property Organization members this week have discussed the possibility of convening a diplomatic conference - a high-level negotiation - on a treaty on industrial design law. As of yesterday, members appeared near consensus to proceed to a diplomatic conference, according to sources. Meanwhile, the European Union made a presentation on how it is contributing to IP and development.
World Intellectual Property Organization members this evening reached a hard-won preliminary agreement on a path to a high-level negotiation of treaties or other instruments for the protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources. The tentative deal, reached in informal meetings, creates an intensive work programme for the next year and a final decision in September 2014. The plan will have to go before the full WIPO membership in plenary as soon as Monday.
NEW YORK – The vast collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry, government and civil society is perhaps “one of the best-kept secrets of our industry,” the head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) said this week, stressing the need for even more cooperating heading into the post-2015 development agenda at the United Nations.
The future work of the World Intellectual Property Organization on copyright policy after the success of the treaty to facilitate access to special format works for visually impaired people last June in Marrakesh is subject to controversy this week at the General Assembly of the Organisation. The committee still has three potential treaties brewing and priorities have to be decided upon. As of last night, the issue remained open, joining a set of others left to informal consultations.
Progress on mainstreaming a development dimension into all World Intellectual Property Organization activities and its assessment by a dedicated committee has been called into question by developing countries concerned that the mandatory effort has slipped in importance.