Category Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets

After Two-Year Hiatus, WIPO Resumes Discussions On Protecting Traditional Knowledge

How can traditional knowledge be protected against misappropriation and who should benefit from this protection is at the heart of discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week. After over a two-year hiatus, WIPO delegates are resuming discussions this week on a potential treaty protecting traditional knowledge. The week’s focus is to find common understanding of core issues, such as the definition of traditional knowledge, and the scope of protection.

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.

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]

Kenya In Drive To Get Artisans, Designers To Embrace IP

NAIROBI, Kenya -- At a market stall in Kariokor some 300 metres from Kenya’s capital Nairobi city centre, Stephen Musyoka is busy at work making covers for handwoven baskets, a traditional sisal fibre shopping basket known as Kiondo made by older women from different communities in Kenya.

Survey Finds Promising Future, Major Challenges For Augmented And Virtual Reality

Optimism is said to exist about the future of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) following a survey completed by over 650 respondents in the industry. Though growth and investment are anticipated, concerns about a lack of compelling content and cost and issues with the user experience were among the survey’s key findings. Legal risks were identified as well, with the highest percentage relating to technology and intellectual property licensing.