Original news and analysis on international IP policy
The debate over the future of the European patent system was rekindled at a July hearing at the European Commission in Brussels. Maurits Lugard is a Brussels-based attorney representing small and large companies, including Microsoft, as legal counsel to the…
The European Patent Office (EPO) with its centralised patent grant system was established in 1973. The EPO has 31 member states and comprises a legislative body, the administrative council, and its Munich-based executive office. The EPO has addressed its concerns…
India, Brazil and other countries are calling for an amendment to the 1994 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) [WTO document WT] to help countries to better protect their biological resources and traditional knowledge…
The 59th World Health Assembly, taking place from 22-27 May followed by a meeting of the World Health Organization Executive Board, is addressing three resolutions related to intellectual property rights. These include a proposal to establish a working group to…
By Robin Gross, IP Justice From 1-5 May 2006, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) will hold its 14th Session in Geneva to determine the fate of the controversial Broadcasting Treaty. In…
Yochai Benkler is a law professor at Yale Law School. He helped host a well-attended conference on Access to Knowledge held 21-23 April at Yale. Benkler focuses on the effect of laws on flows of information and knowledge in the…
Graham Dutfield is a legal researcher at the Queen Mary College of the University of London. He is a supporter of traditional knowledge protection and a critic of the anti-development and anti-consumer orientation of current trends in intellectual property rule-making.…
The Creative and Innovative Economy Center was launched on 1 January at George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. Intellectual Property Watch sat down with Director Michael Ryan recently to discuss his views on industry and development, the project,…
In the Expert Views column: Intellectual Property Watch sat down recently with Geoffrey Yu, Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), to discuss the development agenda, technical assistance and relations with non-governmental organisations. Yu is responsible for…
Member governments of the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation at their 26 September to 5 October General Assemblies agreed on a way to proceed with negotiations for a treaty on broadcasters’ rights. They will prepare a “basic proposal,” or draft…
In the lead-up to the Second Phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), to be held in Tunis from 16 to 18 November, government negotiators are working to form a text for leaders to sign. A key…