Alexandra Nightingale

Articles: 38

Survey Finds Promising Future, Major Challenges For Augmented And Virtual Reality

Optimism is said to exist about the future of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) following a survey completed by over 650 respondents in the industry. Though growth and investment are anticipated, concerns about a lack of compelling content and cost and issues with the user experience were among the survey’s key findings. Legal risks were identified as well, with the highest percentage relating to technology and intellectual property licensing.

Alexandra Nightingale
September 13, 2016

Specialized IP Courts: Recognizing Country-Specific Needs Is Complex

In light of the growing global “innovation market” and the rapid development of technologies, countries have reviewed and modernised their judicial systems to address the increase in intellectual property issues. Notably, the establishment of specialized IP courts has been a prominent feature of judicial mechanisms to resolve IP disputes.

UNITAID Issues Call For Solutions To Overcome IP Barriers

UNITAID, the drug financing mechanism, has put out an appeal calling for ideas on solutions to overcome intellectual property barriers that may be preventing progress in public health. The deadline for submissions is coming near.

IP Offices Focus On Educating Younger Population About IP Protection

Intellectual property rights awareness campaigns are increasingly targeting the younger population, as early as primary school, according to several country presentations at the World Intellectual Property Organization enforcement committee this week. WIPO is also developing an Education Took Kit for teachers of children aged 5 to 18. However for some countries, this education should encompass a broader view on IP than only enforcing rights.

Catherine Saez, Alexandra Nightingale and Catherine Saez, Alexandra Nightingale
September 6, 2016

Industry Proposals Contrary To Spirit Of Marrakesh Treaty, Libraries Say

An international group of librarians has warned that rights holder organisations in some countries are promoting provisions that restrict and impede the access envisaged by the Marrakesh Treaty providing exceptions to copyrighted works for visually impaired persons.

US Industry Warns Of Restrictive Policies In ICTs, Including On IP Rights

“Serious concerns” have been raised by the United States Chamber of Commerce that policy measures increasingly restrict investment in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, following its comprehensive examination of ICT laws and policies around the world. Intellectual property rights are among the areas the Chamber says are being targeted.

Committee Agrees WIPO Strategic Plan To 2021: Possible Rethink For Policymaking

Anticipating a degree of uncertainty ahead for the global economy and intellectual property system, the World Intellectual Property Organization in a new six-year strategic plan looks at likely future policy debates, a focus on infrastructure and training, and possible ways to bring about better negotiations at the UN agency.

Alexandra Nightingale, William New and Alexandra Nightingale, William New
August 31, 2016
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Summer Changes Make A Splash In The IP Community

Over the summer months, people in the intellectual property world continue to circulate. UNITAID has changed heads, and other well-known figures in Geneva set off to new horizons. And no rest it seems for law offices, which maintained their usual level of moves between firms. Here is the latest on People in the IP community.

Catherine Saez, Alexandra Nightingale and Catherine Saez, Alexandra Nightingale
July 28, 2016

The “Denial Playbook”: An Original Product Of The Oil Industry

New documents reveal that the oil and tobacco industries took pages from the same book to engineer their decade long campaigns on denying the existence of climate change and smoking-related cancer. The playbook also appears to have originated not with tobacco, but with the oil industry itself, and the two even appeared to share patents.

The Significance Of Uruguay’s Win Over Philip Morris International

The tobacco industry’s global efforts to use bilateral and multilateral agreements to challenge the spread of tobacco control measures such as trademark-minimising plain packages were dealt a significant blow last week when the World Bank dispute settlement body dismissed a case brought by Philip Morris against the government of Uruguay.

The decision is seen a landmark for those who view the company as using test cases to continually challenge and delay public health protection measures and discourage other countries, particularly those with fewer resources, from strengthening their health regulations. Additionally, the case reasserted that trademarks are subject to government regulations and also illustrated the role that international organisations and actors can play in support of national governments defending their health measures.

UK Government Called To Action To Further Boost IP Enforcement

The United Kingdom-based Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) industry group launched a "manifesto" earlier this month, calling on the government to establish a more effective and comprehensive response to intellectual property crime.

EU Anti-Counterfeiting Rapid Intelligence System: One Database For All Data On IPR Infringement

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission Trade Directorate recently launched a new intellectual property enforcement tool that aims to pool together all data relating to IP rights infringement experienced by EU companies into one database to help build prevention strategies. This is one of many new EU initiatives to counter growing IPR infringement and counterfeits.