Influential EU Industry Group Urges Stronger IP Focus In Trade Relations
Greater emphasis should be placed on intellectual property issues in the European Union’s trade relations with developing countries, a leading employers group has recommended.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
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The US-Cotton Case — The Truth Behind Brazil’s Cross-Retaliation Against US Intellectual Property
In a recent speech at the Export-Import Bank's annual conference, US President Obama said the US Trade Representative will use its "full arsenal" to combat "practices that blatantly harm" US businesses, and that includes "enforcing existing [US] agreements." The question is: will the US comply with its multilateral obligations under the WTO agreement in the US-Brazil cotton case, says Brazilian academic Pedro Paranaguá.
2009 Tough For International Trademark Filings; 2010 Looking Up
International trademark filings plummeted in 2009 but trends should be reversed as the global economy regains strength with signs already showing in 2010, World Intellectual Property Organization’s Director General Francis Gurry said today.
New US Broadband Internet Plan Scrutinised; Cybersecurity Bill Includes IP
The United States Federal Communications Commission’s newly released plan to expand broadband internet access within the country was well-received from several sides of the digital rights debate, with some questions. Separately, a new cybersecurity bill introduced in the US Congress today includes measures to protect intellectual property rights.
European Broadcasters Call For Easier Copyright Clearance For Online Content
European Union copyright law needs to be amended so that the clearance of copyrights is simplified for online content, the European Broadcasting Union said today. The group presented the results of an analysis it conducted today at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Public Health Policy In 2010: Research Funding And Regulations
Finding ways to fund research and regulating medication is critical to international public health policy and intellectual property rights specialists in 2010.
UK IP Minister Lammy Backs EU Release Of ACTA Text
David Lammy, United Kingdom Minister for Intellectual Property, today said the UK supports the European Union’s position that the text of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) should be made public. “The UK has long been in favour of greater transparency…
Lamy: IP Gaps “Illuminated,” But Not Narrower
World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy has announced to member states that governments’ differences on two key intellectual property issues have been “better illuminated” by an ongoing informal consultation process, though he added, “I would not say that the…
Brazil Starts Public Consult On Retaliation Against US IP Rights
The Brazilian government today announced the start of a process of public consultation on suspension of concessions or obligations of intellectual property rights from the United States. The government on 15 March published a resolution of the Chamber of External…
AIDS Patients Protest EU-India Trade Agreement
Patients with HIV/AIDS today protested in New Delhi against negotiations for a European Union-India free trade agreement that they say will restrict access to cheaper versions of critical medicines in developing countries. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, or Doctors without Borders)…
European Generics Industry Calls For “Urgent Patent Reform”
“Competition and real innovation” will be increasingly difficult if the patent system in Europe is not reformed, the European Generic Medicines Association (EGA) said today at its “Legal Affairs Forum,” which took place on 11 March. The European Patent Office…
Indian Civil Society Raises Concerns Over US Industry-Sponsored IP Summits
Public interest groups in India are raising questions over annual summits involving Indian judges and policymakers that are being funded by major western industry groups, in particular pharmaceutical companies. At this year’s summit, held recently, a section of India’s patent law which prevents the extension of monopoly power for incremental innovations came under attack, the groups have said.