Category Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets

Experts Discuss Policy On Patent Landscapes For Life Sciences

By Kaitlin Mara Access to quality data in intellectual property policy in the life sciences is as necessary as it is hard to obtain, said a recent meeting of technical experts, called to discuss challenges in patents and innovation in…

Mobile Phone Manufacturers Seek To Control Rising IP Costs

By Tatum Anderson for Intellectual Property Watch
A proposal by some of the world's largest mobile phone equipment manufacturers to limit royalty fees on a next-generation wireless technology is the latest in a series of initiatives to try and control spiralling intellectual property costs.

Further Resolution Needed To Keep IP Issues In WTO Negotiations

By Kaitlin Mara Intellectual property rights issues on the table in the newly invigorated World Trade Organization negotiations are at risk if remaining deep differences cannot be further narrowed in the coming weeks, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said Thursday.…

Innovative Partnership To Create Another Patent-Free Malaria Drug

By Catherine Saez After an innovative partnership between a non-governmental group and a pharmaceutical company led to a new cheap non-patented drug against malaria being available in Africa in 2007, the model is being implemented again with another new non-patented…

German Enforcement Directive: Industry Favour Or Necessary First Step?

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch
The German Parliament last Friday passed changes in copyright, patent and other intellectual property-related laws with the aim of better enforcement of IP violations in civil rights cases.

The changes transpose the much-debated European Union IP Enforcement Directive (IPRED) into German law. IPRED contains general obligations, precautionary and corrective measures, damages and extended information rights for rights owners in civil law complaints aimed at third parties like internet service providers (ISPs).

US Patent Reform Stalls as Senate Negotiations Break Down

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch United States Senate negotiations on sweeping reform of the patent system foundered late last week as ongoing disputes over key provisions – and possible squabbling over confirmation of federal judges – resulted in…

EPO Head Sees Need To Review IP Rules For Climate Change

By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch
BRUSSELS - Changes to intellectual property rules may be needed to facilitate the use of technology aimed at addressing climate change, the head of the European Patent Office (EPO) has suggested.

Next month, the 34-country EPO will host what it claims is the first major international conference to examine the patenting issues raised by global warming.

Alison Brimelow, the EPO's president, said the European Patent Forum in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana will give an opportunity to exchange ideas on whether the international system for regulating intellectual property should be modified.