Category Trademarks/Geographical Indications/Domains

Meetings On IP And Innovation In Africa Open In Tanzania

A ministerial-level meeting organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Japan Patent Office, and the Tanzanian government began today in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two-day conference, which focuses on how IP can stimulate innovation and development, will be followed by a UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) meeting and a US Department of Commerce Commercial Law and Development Program (CLDP)-led workshop on IP use and protection at the same venue.

Leaked IP Chapter Of India-EU FTA Shows TRIPS-Plus Pitfalls For India, Expert Says

Indian negotiators are reportedly under tremendous pressure to give in to the European demands for a more rigid intellectual property rights regime in the ongoing discussions on EU-India free trade agreement, suggests a leaked draft text of the chapter on IP which is being negotiated.

US Defender Of Internet Freedom, Keen On Protecting IP Rights

For the third year in a row, the United States mission to the United Nations in Geneva brought together human rights activists from different parts of the world in an effort to promote internet freedom. At a press briefing, a senior US State Department official described efforts to address challenges to freedom on the internet, and said that intellectual property in the context of internet is a complicated issue.

WTO Hears Health, Economic Considerations Of Plain Packaging For Tobacco

In its meeting this week, the World Trade Organisation intellectual property committee heard again about the issue of plain packaging of tobacco products, as New Zealand is proposing to introduce such a regime in the country. Economic and health interests were used by those opposed and proponents to the measure.

Catherine Saez
March 7, 2013

WTO: Wide Support For LDC TRIPS Extension, With A Hitch

The World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property rights met this week and addressed a request by least developed countries for an extension of the period to enforce WTO intellectual property rules. LDCs want that the extension be extinguishable only after a country ceases to be considered as 'least developed', which developing countries largely supported. Developed countries, however, were hesitant about the terms of the proposed extension.

Geneva IP Delegates

As a reference for IP-Watch subscribers, a substantive list of government delegates, alphabetised by country, responsible for intellectual property issues in Geneva.

US Report: Foreign-Owned Firms Dominate IP Industries

A majority of leading firms in IP-related industries are foreign-owned, according to a new report, which argues that this should change the focus of US policymakers on domestic IP protection.

Kelly Burke
March 6, 2013
2 Comments

Academics Criticise Handling Of Cultural Diversity, Traditional Knowledge At International Level

At a recent conference jointly organised by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID, Geneva) and the Museum of Art and History of Geneva, academics tackled the question of the preservation of culture - in its natural and cultural dimension - against the risks of globalisation.

Should Industry Support LDCs’ Request For Unlimited Time To Implement The TRIPS Agreement? Absolutely

Nick Ashton-Hart writes: Some of you may have noticed that the ICT sector trade association that I represent in Geneva, the Computer and Communication Industry Association (CCIA), has endorsed a bid by the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) to remove any specific deadline for full compliance with the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.

Russia Establishes Specialised Court For Intellectual Property Rights

As of 1 February 2013, a specialised court for intellectual property rights (the IPR Court) is instituted within the system of commercial (‘arbitrazh’) courts of the Russian Federation.

Daria Kim
March 1, 2013
1 Comment

Speakers Outline Ideas For Africa To Find Appropriate IP Policies

Johannesburg, South Africa - Africa is still held captive by colonial borders and has failed to collectively leverage benefit-sharing agreements that result from multinationals’commercial pursuit of indigenous knowledge, said speakers at the Africa IP conference this week.

South Africa Leaning Toward Support Of Pan-African IP Office, Minister Says

Johannesburg - There are strong indications that South Africa may join – and lead the charge - in the establishment of the controversial Pan-African Intellectual Property Office (PAIPO).

Linda Daniels
February 28, 2013
1 Comment