Category English

US Patent Reform Prospects Unclear; First-To-File Questioned

Patent reform may be chugging along in the United States Congress, but so far, with the Senate soon to be consumed with what could be a contentious Supreme Court nomination fight, and with President Obama still lacking a new director of the US Patent and Trademark Office, some are questioning whether reform will actually happen this year. In addition, a key "first-to-file" provision in the US bill to harmonise with other countries may be more appearance than substance.

Liza Porteus Viana
May 18, 2009

WHO Members Fail To Finish Pandemic Flu Preparations

A series of meetings intended to set out a global framework for dealing with a potential pandemic completed its last session Saturday night with progress made but several essential issues still uncompleted.

Kaitlin Mara
May 18, 2009
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World Health Assembly Takes On R&D, Pandemics, Not Counterfeits

The annual World Health Assembly kicks off Monday with key issues of intellectual property and public health on the agenda, but the plan to end the assembly early this year in the face of the pandemic influenza crisis has trimmed talks on counterfeit medicines from the meeting, according to official sources.

Kaitlin Mara
May 18, 2009

Experts Aim To Balance Intellectual Property Rights And Human Rights

The United Nations human rights framework is being brought to bear on intellectual property law, in the hopes that the weight of expert voices in human rights can lead IP regimes toward a better balance between the needs of industry and the needs of public policy.

Content Industry Still Seeks Digital Model As Enforcement Focus Persists

In the continued absence of a new model that adequately includes them, major global media groups remain concerned over revenues lost to unauthorised file-sharing decades after the arrival of the internet, and their focus is still on enforcement and extension of their rights.

William New
May 15, 2009

WHO Meeting On Pandemic Flu Reconvenes Under Pressure

As cases of swine flu in humans pile up and fears that a more serious outbreak could occur in the future, member states, drug manufacturers and public health advocates gather Friday and Saturday to see if they can come up with a way to facilitate sharing of both viruses and vaccine related materials.
Intellectual property laws are a key point of contention at the reconvened meeting.

Kaitlin Mara
May 15, 2009

WTO’s Lamy Continues Engagement On Intellectual Property Issues

World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy continues to be engaged on intellectual property issues as WTO members begin to revive broader trade negotiations. This week Lamy hosted the heads of the World Intellectual Property Organization and World Health Organization together, and then chaired a consultation with ambassadors on proposals to amend WTO rules on intellectual property and trade.

William New
May 14, 2009

UK Patent Office To Fast-Track Green Inventions

The United Kingdom will now fast-track patent applications for inventions that could have a significant impact on combatting climate change. The “green” patent initiative was launched on 12 May by David Lammy, UK Minister for Intellectual Property. It will enable…

French Parliament Passes Final Internet Anti-Piracy Law; Reaction Expected

The French Senate’s vote on Wednesday sealed the adoption by the Parliament of the controversial French HADOPI law creating a graduated punishment mechanism for alleged copyright infringement on the internet.

Seven Names Said To Be Chosen For Top WIPO Posts

Word is out among Geneva diplomats that seven officials have been informally proposed to be the next cabinet of World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry.

William New
May 13, 2009

HADOPI Bill Adopted Tuesday By French Deputies

The much-disputed French HADOPI legislation on the diffusion and protection of works on the internet was adopted Tuesday by the French National Assembly by a majority of 296 in favour and 233 against. With Tuesday’s passage, alleged copyright infringers now…

May Edition Of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Now Available

The Intellectual Property Watch Monthly Edition features top news on international IP policymaking, the latest on who is coming and going in the international IP community, news briefs and more. The May edition is now available for subscribers.

Kaitlin Mara
May 12, 2009