Category Trademarks/Geographical Indications/Domains

G8: Amid Talks Of Climate, Economy, Food And Health Lies IP & Innovation

Leaders of the seven biggest economies and Russia (G8) at their annual summit this week in L'Aquila, Italy have made very cautious commitments with regard to the top issue, climate change, but views on intellectual property rights enforcement began to become clear on the second day. The summit so far has addressed issues related to trade, development, terrorism, and also innovation and IP.

Statements in the leaders' Wednesday declaration with regard to intellectual property called for a firm push for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which is unchanged from the past. But the G8 IP Expert Group (IPEG) on Thursday published the results of its discussion in which they went into more detail on some issues.

WCO Kills “SECURE” Group, But Creates Health Enforcement Mandate

The World Customs Organization at its annual assembly in late June replaced a controversial group on counterfeiting and piracy with a softer dialogue mechanism that may defuse earlier concerns of potential overreaching on intellectual property infringement by customs officials. But it added a new mandate on health to a separate committee on enforcement that could raise new concerns.

Special Report – ICANN: New CEO, New Government Role, Accelerated International Domains

With three important processes coming to a head at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) this year, it is difficult not to overlook some changes in the private body, which oversees the internet domain name system. At ICANN's recent board meeting, the appointment of a shiny new CEO, former United States Homeland Security Department cybersecurity director Rod Beckstrom, drew attention away from top issues, which include the introduction of new top-level domains, ongoing institutional reform, and the looming September expiration of the ICANN-US government agreement.

Report: Drug Companies Violating WHO Ethics On Advertising In East Africa

NAIROBI - Drug companies routinely violate World Health Organization ethical guidelines when advertising and promoting their products in East Africa, according to a new study released Thursday.

European Patent System, Court Top Priority Under Swedish EU Presidency

COPENHAGEN - A top priority for Sweden as it takes over the EU presidency on 1 July is to boost negotiations on a Community patent system and a European Patent Court, the government says. Its work programme also emphasises the need for "effective protection of intellectual property rights" and lists a conference on enforcement. Officials, however, deny that enforcement is among the presidency's main IP focus. And the Pirate Party is concerned.

Global Legislative Reform Could Unlock Benefits Of GIs, Advocates Say

TERUEL, SPAIN - Geographical indications (GIs) are in the interest of both producers and consumers as they provide a tool for sustainable economic growth and offer a guarantee of quality, concluded a high-level meeting of GI proponents last week. However, with shortcomings in the international framework and a lack of consensus on GIs, countries have been trying to find legal ways to address the issue.

世界海关组织考虑设立新的反假冒伪劣“对话机制”

本周，世界海关组织将努力达成协议，就反假冒伪劣和剽窃问题成立一个软化的工作组，代替以前的工作组，以便可以化解人们有关海关官员手伸得太长的关切。它还将考虑通过一项建议，在执法活动中把重点明确放到公共卫生和安全方面。

La OMA estudia nuevo “mecanismo de diálogo” relativo a la falsificación y énfasis explícito en materia de salud pública

Esta semana la Organización Mundial de Aduanas (OMA) tratará de llegar a un acuerdo sobre un grupo de sustitución más flexible para la lucha contra la falsificación y la piratería que podría calmar las preocupaciones sobre la extralimitación de los funcionarios de aduanas. Asimismo, estudiará una propuesta para agregar un énfasis explícito en materia de salud pública y seguridad a sus actividades de ejecución.

L’OMD étudie un nouveau « mécanisme de dialogue » sur la contrefaçon et se concentre ouvertement sur l’aspect santé publique

Cette semaine, l’Organisation mondiale des douanes (OMD) va essayer de parvenir à un accord sur la constitution d’un nouveau groupe de lutte contre la contrefaçon et le piratage plus flexible. Un consensus pourrait mettre fin aux inquiétudes qui entourent le champ trop étendu des responsabilités attribuées aux préposés des douanes.

منظمة الجمارك العالمية تنظر في “آلية الحوار” بشأن التقليد والتركيز الصريح على الصحة العامة

ستحاول منظمة الجمارك العالمية هذا الأسبوع التوصل إلى اتفاق بشأن فريق بديل مخفف ضد التقليد والقرصنة من شأنه أن يبدد القلق إزاء التجاوز من قبل موظفي الجمارك. وستنظر المنظمة أيضا في اقتراح يتعلق بإضافة تركيز صريح على الصحة العامة والسلامة إلى أنشطتها المتعلقة بالإنفاذ.