Year 2016

Trump Silence On IP Policy Leaves Rights Owners Baffled

While US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has published detailed positions on intellectual property, technology transfer and trade, Republican candidate Donald Trump has limited his comments to trade reform and alleged Chinese IP theft. The policy vacuum has left the IP community not only uncertain of Trump's intentions but unable even to find the right people to ask, one IP attorney said. [Note: story updated with a comment about IP made by Trump]

Special Report: IP And Competition Law – Opposing Forces Or Partners For Consumer Welfare?

Intellectual property and competition authorities should collaborate, but other institutions should also have their say, such as health ministries, speakers said at a United Nations meeting of experts this week. And guidelines should be provided to judges in the difficult task of determining whether IP rights monopolies impede on competition, they said. This special report takes a deeper look at IPRs, competition, and differing economies.

Design Treaty Not Discussed At WIPO Committee; Information Session On GIs To Be Held In Spring

Fresh from intense discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assemblies earlier this month, delegates to a WIPO committee today agreed to hold an information session on geographical indications in the spring, and to further work on industrial designs. However, no further discussions to help break the deadlock on a proposed design law treaty could be arranged this week.

Nearly 100 Organisations Press For Better Medicines Access In Asian Region RCEP Agreement

Nearly 100 health, community and development organisations working in the Asia-Pacific region issued a call for trade ministers negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement to "reject provisions that would negatively affect access to generic medicines." Negotiators are meeting from 17-22 October in China, and the concern is about the intellectual property chapter of the deal.

EPO Staff Welcome Withdrawal Of Unpopular Disciplinary Proposals

Pressure from staff and now from members of the European Patent Office governing body has forced EPO President Benoît Battistelli to withdraw controversial proposals for disciplining and investigating employees, the Staff Union of the EPO (SUEPO) said on 17 October. The action was welcomed but the situation is far from resolved, staff members say.

CETA Still Not At Finish Line As Belgian State Halts Process

CETA, the Canada-Europe trade agreement, is still not at the finish line yet. The European Commission has all but one member state on board for the signature of the Comprehensive Economy and Trade Agreement (CETA), Slovak Economy Minister Peter Ziga said today after a meeting of the trade ministers of the EU member states.

WHO Pandemic Influenza Advisory Group Meeting In Secret This Week

The World Health Organization pandemic influenza framework advisory group is meeting this week, behind closed doors. A consultation is expected to take place on 20 October with stakeholders, and an information session has been organised on 21 October on the work of the advisory group, but no press is allowed in either meeting nor able to obtain any information about any aspect of the week’s events.