Original news and analysis on international IP policy
An internet civil liberties group in Hungary has warned that the country's new media law gives the government censorship authority, threatening freedom of speech and independent journalism. The law took effect on 1 January - at the same time Hungary assumed the six-month presidency of the European Union, raising fears of EU level spread of such policies.
An official who is has been an active voice in access to medicines policymaking in Geneva has taken over as the new permanent representative of Kenya to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The International Trademark Association today announced the appointment of its 2011 president, the first INTA president from a non-English speaking country.
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There could be some good news in 2011 for poor populations concerned about the impact of devastating pandemic diseases. Nations last week reached some breakthroughs behind closed doors in the sensitive international negotiations on finding a way to ensure all global citizens can obtain vaccines in the face of pandemics, according to a leading official in the talks. But some observers said problems remain in establishing clear rules for fair access and benefit-sharing of viruses and vaccines.
An independent review of intellectual property rights and economic growth in the United Kingdom has issued a call for evidence on how the IP system can best support growth.
President Obama is being pushed to sign into a law a bill passed by the United States Congress that would create six pilot programmes nationwide aimed at increasing expertise among district court judges in dealing with patents. Proponents consider the bill help against non-producing, patent owning companies that make a business of suing to defend the patents they own.
Two sides of the ongoing struggle to balance stronger copyright protection and access to knowledge in the United States are re-arming themselves for battle in 2011. By the looks of it, it could be a litigious New Year.
The United States State Department today released information about 15 projects worldwide this year aimed at training officials and prosecutors in intellectual property rights protection. The full press release follows.
The World Intellectual Property Organization is headed in a controversial direction, and a focus on development at the expense of protection of intellectual property rights will mean the end of the agency, the United States Ambassador Betty King said yesterday.