Category IP Policies

Despite Ongoing Efforts, USPTO Still Faces Patent Quality Issues

The US Patent and Trademark Office continues to face claims of low patent quality despite a major initiative to address the situation. The agency has been the subject of several critical reports by oversight agencies and recently defended its patent quality improvements before Congress. Patent practitioners say that while patent quality may not actually have worsened over the past few years, the USPTO's ongoing lack of financial and other resources, and inconsistent judicial decisions, are among the factors causing problems.

Dugie Standeford
September 16, 2016
2 Comments

Antimicrobial Resistance A ‘Global Societal Challenge And Threat’, WHO Official Says

Antimicrobial resistance had in the last decades emerged as a health issue, but only in the last couple of years has there been an understanding that we are facing a “global societal challenge and threat.” On a day-to-day basis, people worldwide are said to be driving resistance across human health and agriculture.

Alexandra Nightingale
September 16, 2016
1 Comment

Changes In Music Listening: Survey Finds Streaming Improves; Stream Ripping The New Infringement

Industry research on music consumer behaviour has found changes in practices of accessing and listening to music. It has been found that, whilst paid audio streaming services grew, copyright infringement remains a significant problem. Next up? Stream ripping.

Alexandra Nightingale
September 16, 2016

Delinkage Of R&D Costs From Product Prices

It is essential that policy makers reform the systems for financing R&D, and de-link the costs of R&D from the prices of products, says James Love.

Guest contributor
September 15, 2016
5 Comments

Switzerland Champions Disclosure Requirement In Patents, Counters US Interpretation

The government of Switzerland has issued a defence of its national law on disclosure of origin of genetic resources in patent applications, finding fault with the interpretation of its law by the United States. The Swiss response comes on the eve of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting on related issues.

Catherine Saez
September 15, 2016
1 Comment

MSF Report Calls On Governments To Repair, Remodel Biomedical R&D

Governments are urged to do more to promote the development of desperately-needed new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics at affordable prices and address the failures of research and development (R&D) in a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières.

Alexandra Nightingale
September 15, 2016

WiFi Providers Can Be Forced To Require Passwords On Rightsholder Request, ECJ Rules

The European Court of Justice today ruled that a shop offering Wifi is not liable for copyright infringements on its network but may be forced by rightsholders to require passwords to use the network. [Update: Reactions are being added below]

William New
September 15, 2016
1 Comment

‘High Noon’ Showdown Hearing In US Over Internet Control

Former US Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz today used a 3.5 hour hearing of a Senate subcommittee he chairs to attempt to scare the US Commerce Department National Telecommunications and Information Administration away at the last minute from its plans to transition out of its stewardship role for the internet root zone system.

Monika Ermert
September 14, 2016

WIPO Committee Approves Forbin As New Top Copyright Official

The nomination of Sylvie Forbin of France to be the next head of copyright issues at the World Intellectual Property Organization was finalised yesterday as the WIPO Coordination Committee approved her appointment. She starts work at WIPO on Monday.

William New
September 14, 2016

UN High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines Issues “Landmark” Report

The long-awaited report by the United Nations High Level Panel on Access to Medicines was released today, making many recommendations. The panel calls for countries to embrace the policy space available in the World Trade Organization intellectual property rules, and invest more in health. It also calls for negotiation of a binding international treaty on research and development, delinking prices from R&D costs, greater transparency in drug pricing, public health impact assessments in free trade agreements, and encouragement to better use international legal tools available to countries to ensure affordable medical products. And it lays out the path ahead, calling for several new bodies to be created to take recommendations forward. [Note: story is being continuously updated during the day, now adding industry response]

Catherine Saez
September 14, 2016
10 Comments

European Commission Copyright Reform Proposal Sparks Many Jeers, Some Cheers

European Commission plans to overhaul EU copyright rules, officially published today, have prompted strong support and opposition. Controversy centres in particular around two proposals: The requirement that online services monitor against user-generated uploads of copyright-protected content, and the proposed grant of a “neighbouring right” to press publishers.

Dugie Standeford
September 14, 2016
2 Comments

Judge’s Opinion That EU Is Competent To Ratify Marrakesh Treaty Might Break Standstill

The European Union has exclusive competence to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty on copyright exceptions for visually impaired people, the advocate general of the Court of Justice of the EU has found. This conclusion, which was well-received by representatives of the visually impaired, could speed up the ratification of the treaty by the EU.

Catherine Saez
September 14, 2016
5 Comments