Category Trademarks/Geographical Indications/Domains

Industrial Designs Still On Track To Treaty At WIPO, Despite Differing Views

World Intellectual Property Organization delegates advanced work on a draft treaty text on industrial design this week but were left divided on the opportunity of holding a high-level meeting to adopt such a treaty in 2014. One of the sticking points was whether to include an article on technical assistance and capacity building in the text of the draft treaty. The committee also decided to continue work on the protection of country names in the context of trademarks.

Catherine Saez
May 31, 2013

Country Names An Easier Road Than Technical Assistance For WIPO Trademark Committee

The protection of country names was discussed today by World Intellectual Property Organization members with a more amiable approach than on how to include technical assistance in a draft treaty text on industrial designs. The question of the convening of a high-level meeting to adopt the potential treaty was also discussed with dissension between developing and developed countries.

Catherine Saez
May 30, 2013

Food Culture Clash: EU, US Conflicting Concepts For GIs; Both Covet Asian Market

Geographical indications were born in Europe and still remain a widely used means to protect products from a particular region, with particular characteristics. The European Union has been a strong advocate of GIs in international negotiations, while their efforts have been countered by countries such as the United States which favour a trademark system. Now both sides are trying to impose their views through bilateral trade agreements, including with each other, according to speakers at a recent conference. And now a US trade association for generic names is raising concerns in Europe.

Catherine Saez
May 29, 2013

Financial IP Exchange To Launch First Contract Offering In June

The Intellectual Property Exchange International Inc. (IPXI), the world’s first financial exchange that facilitates non-exclusive licensing and trading of IP rights, will start offering a licence contract in June.

Kelly Burke
May 29, 2013

Despite Economic Growth, Africa Struggles To Meet All MDGs

Despite increased economic growth over the past decade, Africa will not reach some of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets set forth in 2000 by the United Nations, including halving poverty by 2015, according to a UN report released yesterday.

Kelly Burke
May 28, 2013

Technical Assistance A Challenge For WIPO Treaty On Industrial Designs

Another World Intellectual Property Organization committee opened with the prospect of achieving progress on a potential treaty text this week. The committee is trying to establish an instrument that would simplify the international registration of industrial designs.

Catherine Saez
May 28, 2013

GIs The “Darling” of Europe, But Protection A Challenge For All, Producers Say

Bordeaux - The challenges for geographical indications in the 21st century were explored at a recent conference co-organised by two organisations promoting this type of intellectual property protection. Among issues presented were the protection of geographical indications, and the value of geographical indications at the European level.

Catherine Saez
May 28, 2013

At WTO, LDC Fight For Extension Of TRIPS Transition Continues

Over the past week or so, least-developed country (LDC) members of the World Trade Organization have held their own in a closed room with the world’s biggest economies as they worked out details of a request by the LDCs to extend the deadline by which they must enforce WTO intellectual property rules.

William New
May 24, 2013
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GI Proponents Assess Progress, Challenges; French Minister Blasts Large-Scale Agriculture

Bordeaux, France - In a stronghold of French gastronomy and famous regional products an industry organisation lobbying for the protection of geographical indications chose this week to convene its general assembly and set the goals for future actions.

Catherine Saez
May 24, 2013

EU Parliament Backs Start Of Transatlantic FTA Negotiations

The European Parliament today voted in favour of a resolution welcoming the start of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). With 460 votes in favour, 105 against – mainly the Green Party Group and the Left - and 28 abstentions, the resolution passed after a heated debate Wednesday night. The majority allowed for the flexibility asked for by EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht in the debate but nevertheless requested to “exclude cultural and audiovisual services, including those provided online.”

Special Report: Big Trading Blocs Moving At Breakneck Pace To Raise Free Trade Standards

The pace to negotiate bilateral or plurilateral free trade agreements has been accelerating rapidly over the last month as the big trading blocs seem eager to position themselves in the race for market access and standards.

China, Japan and Korea in March hurried to open their first official round of negotiations (CJK), just in time to edge ahead of Japan's joining the negotiations of an enlarged Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and also ahead of the official start of a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) announced by the European Union and the United States earlier this year. Meanwhile, a concerned Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) rushed to counter these ventures with their own competitive bid by starting detailed talks on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in Brunei Daressalam.

Monika Ermert
May 22, 2013

WIPO Unveils Results Of Training Department Assessment, But Keeps Document Secret

The World Intellectual Property Organization training arm has been undergoing an external assessment which was presented to member states during the organisation's committee on development last week.