Extra Time For Japanese Patent Filers
Patent offices in developed and developing countries answered a call from the Japan Patent Office for “bail-out measures” for Japanese patent applicants who were affected by the tsunami on 11 March.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets
TiVo Case More Closely Aligns US With Europe On Patent Infringement Contempt Cases
The United States recently changed one important aspect of enforcing patent rights. Patent owners who wish to use contempt proceedings to stop adjudged infringers from committing additional infringements must comply with the new standards laid down in TiVo Inc. v. EchoStar Corp. The decision, which brings US law closer to that of European countries, makes it easier for patentees to bring contempt actions, but may sometimes make it harder to win these actions.
UNCTAD: Bundle Of Opportunities To Improve Medicines Access In LDCs
Access to essential medicines in least developed countries (LDCs) could be facilitated through local production, according to a report released today by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
WIPO Committee On Development Agenda Suspended, Discussions Bogged Down
The World Intellectual Property Organization committee in charge of overseeing the implementation of the organisation’s cornerstone Development Agenda, ended abruptly when the session was suspended after a strong disagreement over a development project.
WIPO Members To Work Toward Treaty On Folklore, Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources
Building on recent momentum that has produced negotiating texts towards an international instrument to protect folklore, traditional knowledge and genetic resources, delegates to the World Intellectual Property Organization next week will try to clean the texts that still bear signs of division.
USPTO Director Kappos Outlines A Pro-Active, Value-Driven Patent Office
NEW YORK – The United States Patent and Trademark Office is operating at a “higher level” these days, trying to look beyond patent numbers to patent quality and value, USPTO Director David Kappos told a group of licensing executives yesterday.
Trading’s End: Is ACTA The Leading Edge Of A Protectionist Wave?
Government policymakers are stalling on trade liberalization while erecting new nontransparent trade barriers, writes Frederick Abbott.
TRIPS Amendments Needed To Restore Balance In IP, Researchers Say
Current global intellectual property obligations are seen by some as favouring rights holders to the detriment of the public interest, and a series of amendments to international rules on trade and IP could address this, says a new book from a respected European think tank.
WIPO Members Renew Debate Over Development Agenda Implementation, Coordination
A debate has arisen this week among World Intellectual Property Organization members over a WIPO secretariat report on implementation of the 2007 Development Agenda, which was intended to infuse a stronger development dimension into the UN agency’s activities.
World Health Ministers Pledge To Fight Non-Communicable Diseases
A pledge against the spread of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other noncommunicable diseases was made last week by health ministers adopting a “Moscow Declaration” to prevent, and treat such illnesses.
Consumers’ Rights Still Not On Equal Footing With Copyright Owners’, Study Finds
The newly published third annual Consumers International IP Watchlist shows that most countries offer weak support for consumer interests in access to knowledge and the global copyright system seems ill-equipped to respond to the new consumer creativity evolving on internet. However, the study found that some countries are demonstrating good practices when it comes to consumers.
WIPO Internal Audit Division Seeks Consultants To Assess IP In Kenya
The World Intellectual Property Organization Internal Audit and Oversight Division is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to conduct an evaluation and analysis of Kenya’s performance with intellectual property rights during the years 2005 to 2010. The study aims to help WIPO members to assess the effect of the UN agency’s work in the country during that time, and to boost learning and accountability.