Category Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets

Droits de propriété intellectuelle et organismes génétiquement modifiés : une combinaison fatale selon les activistes

Par Catherine Saez L’extension des brevets aux organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM) et leur production dans de nombreux pays menacent les droits des agriculteurs et la biodiversité, la sécurité alimentaire dépendant de plus en plus d’une poignée d’entreprises transnationales de biotechnologie,…

Rapid Rise In African Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts Led By Developed Nations

By Nick Wadhams for Intellectual Property Watch NAIROBI, KENYA – Amid fears that huge quantities of counterfeit medicines and pesticides are pouring into Africa, the international law enforcement agency INTERPOL is leading the way to invest more effort and money…

WHO Renews Delicate Effort On Pandemic Influenza Virus-Sharing

By Kaitlin Mara An avian influenza outbreak would be a public health disaster, but for the World Health Organization to adequately prepare for that risk, member states must come to a resolution on intellectual property issues related to virus and…

Propiedad intelectual y organismos modificados genéticamente: una combinación que los activistas consideran fatídica

Por Catherine Saez Según los oradores de un reciente taller llevado a cabo en Ginebra, debido a la expansión del alcance de las patentes de organismos modificados genéticamente (OMG) y la aplicación de dichos cultivos en la mayoría de los…

US Appeals Court Hears High-Profile Case On USPTO Power Over Patent Rules

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch
Before a packed audience, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) Friday tackled the highly controversial dispute between the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and much of the patent bar over rules capping the number of continuation requests and claims patent seekers can submit without incurring additional expenses and paperwork.

Brazilian Draft Law Would Curb Expanded Patents On Pharmaceuticals

[Update from the author: Brazil announced on 19 December adoption of the resolution against the extension of patent rights to second-use drugs and polymorphs. Such patents were seen as subterfuges from the pharmaceutical companies to expand their patent rights. The…

Discussions Continue In Informal WTO Special Session On GI Register

By Kaitlin Mara The World Trade Organization body mandated to discuss a registry for geographical indications met Monday, with the only resulting agreement being to meet again later this week for further, more technical, discussions. Several ambassadors were present at…

IP And Genetically Modified Organisms: A Fateful Combination, Activists Say

By Catherine Saez With the expanding scope of patents on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the implementation of such crops in most countries, farmers’ rights and biodiversity are at risk, and food security has become dependent on a few transnational…