Original news and analysis on international IP policy
An extraordinary session of the European Patent Organisation Administrative Council intended to help elect a replacement for outgoing president Alison Brimelow today was again unable to come to a conclusion between the three remaining candidates for the post. There will…
The fourth Access to Knowledge conference (A2K4) hosted by the Yale Law School Information Society Project in New Haven, Connecticut (US) will take place on 11-13 February. The event will be streamed live on video here, and will focus on…
The European Patent Organisation will hold an extraordinary session this week in Munich to try once again to find a replacement for current President Alison Brimelow. At meetings in October and December 2009, none of the then four applicants (IPW,…
The European Patent Office’s recent revocation of a German company’s patent on a plant extract is being seen by some as a step toward fighting biopiracy related to intellectual property rights. In its 26 January decision, the EPO considered the…
US software maker Microsoft’s General Counsel Brad Smith in Brussels today proposed a multistakeholder dialogue on cloud computing in Europe aimed at opening up its potential, including through building confidence, government action and harmonisation of national policies. “In Europe and…
Motion Picture Association of America head Dan Glickman is moving from protecting intellectual property rights to protecting the rights of displaced people worldwide. Glickman announced today he will leave his position as chairman and CEO of the MPAA on 1…
CEO Andrew Witty of UK pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline today announced the launch of an agenda on “open innovation,” through which it promises increased flexibility over its intellectual property as well as partnerships in which its facilities, infrastructure, and actual chemical…
The agenda of the seventh round of Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiations has been published, ending months of speculation and concern about the details of the secretive, high-impact talks. No, just kidding. Actually, the agenda for the 26-29 January meeting…
The full text of a report by an expert working group under the auspices of the World Health Organization tasked with finding innovative ways to finance research and development for neglected diseases is now available from the WHO website here.…
Two separate trade associations this week announced leadership changes to kick off the New Year. The International Trademark Association (INTA) named its 2010 president on 1 January. Heather Steinmeyer, lead counsel for intellectual property at WellPoint Inc, a US Fortune…
An expert working group under the auspices of the World Health Organization tasked with finding ways to finance research and development for diseases that disproportionately affect the poor has released its much-anticipated report. The report is available here [pdf]. After…
The Office of the United States Trade Representative released 23 December a report to the US Congress concerning China’s compliance with its obligations under the World Trade Organization. It is available here. The report examines China’s commitments over a list…