Category Language

No Deal For Now On WIPO Design Treaty, Patent Law Work Plan

Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization this week could not agree on a work plan for the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP), leading to a likely postponement of the next committee meeting. In addition, the annual WIPO General Assemblies failed to agree to hold a diplomatic conference on a Design Law Treaty, but did agree on an expedited way forward. And the Assemblies took note of the work of the committees on standards and enforcement.

William New
October 8, 2012

At WHO, Pharma Suggests Payment Plan For Influenza Virus Use

The World Health Organization advisory group on pandemic influenza preparedness met with pharmaceutical industry representatives, civil society members, and other stakeholders last week to move toward a recommendation on a partnership contribution formula to determine payment modalities for influenza virus sharing.

Experts Gather In Toronto To Assess ICANN And Internet Governance

Public interest groups will join government officials, academics, attorneys, industry representatives and others in Toronto, Canada, on Friday, 12 October alongside the meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to discuss ICANN's involvement in internet governance issues such as security and freedom online.

William New
October 7, 2012
3 Comments

WIPO Members (Again) Intensify Talks On Genetic Material, TK, Folklore

World Intellectual Property Organization members this week agreed to a year-long plan to intensively negotiate for a legal instrument(s) on the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. Next year’s annual WIPO assembly in October will decide on whether to schedule a diplomatic conference to finalise the instrument.

William New
October 7, 2012
2 Comments

OECD Report Shows Rise Of Internet Services

Internet firms continue to drive global economic growth and job increases in the information technology sector, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) found in a new report.

William New
October 7, 2012

Google, Publishers Reach Digital Library Settlement

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) and Google Inc. have reached a settlement in a seven-year copyright dispute involving the Google Library Project, allowing the inclusion of copyrighted digital works.

William New
October 5, 2012

India Ratifies Nagoya Protocol On Biodiversity Access And Benefit-Sharing

The Union Cabinet of India has approved ratification of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing, a measure that provides a tool against biopiracy. The 4 October action comes on the eve of the 11th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

William New
October 5, 2012

WIPO Assembly Moves To Fast-Track Copyright Exceptions For Visually Impaired

The majority of member states of the 185-strong World Intellectual Property Organization have thrown their support for the fast-tracked negotiation of a new treaty or other instrument that sets limitations and exceptions to copyright for the benefit of the visually-impaired and those with print disabilities

Maricel Estavillo, William New and Maricel Estavillo, William New
October 4, 2012
2 Comments

Delay Of Pirate Parties’ WIPO Observer Status Raises Questions

Member governments of the World Intellectual Property Organization yesterday approved all but one application for international non-governmental observer status at the UN agency: Pirate Parties International. This is likely to lead to a discussion of who can be an observer, sources say.

William New
October 4, 2012
8 Comments

US Announces $2.4M In Local Grants To Combat IP Theft

The United States government has announced the release of more than $2.4 million in grants to 13 US jurisdictions for stronger enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Maricel Estavillo
October 4, 2012

CERN: Free Access To Scientific Journals In Physics In 2014

The Geneva-based European Organization for Nuclear Physics (CERN) has collaborated with funding agencies and libraries of 29 countries to make freely available access to otherwise expensive scientific articles in the field of particle physics.

Maricel Estavillo
October 3, 2012

MSF Launches Patent Opposition Database

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors without Borders) today announced the launch of the “Patent Opposition Database,” an online resource to help patient groups or others to oppose wrongful patent applications as a way to ensure access remains open for affordable generic drugs.

William New
October 2, 2012