Category IP-Watch Briefs

US Copyright Industry Submits On Special 301 Review

The International Intellectual Property Alliance, representing much of the US copyright industry, has submitted its allegations of foreign governments’ inadequate protection of US IP rights to the annual Special 301 process of the US Trade Representative’s office.  In all, 48…

GlaxoSmithKline CEO Calls For Patent Pool

Andrew Witty, CEO of pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, said in a speech Friday at Harvard Medical School that GSK will contribute to a patent pool intended to increase innovation on medicines for neglected diseases. A Reuters story on the event is…

New Draft Ethiopian IP Law, Says Local Newspaper

The Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO) has finished a draft intellectual property law that would help pave the way for fuller membership in the Geneva institutions, according to a local news source from the country. The unconfirmed article says EIPO…

EPO Taps Indian Traditional Knowledge Database

The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, India’s online repository of traditional knowledge prior art, will now be available for the European Patent Office to use in its patent grant procedure. The digital library translates information from several languages, including Arabic, Hindi,…

Five Ways To Handle “Brand Identity Crisis”

How to handle the media when a brand identity crisis erupts? The Brand Protection Council (BP Council) counts 5 ways: 1. Get back to basics with the “3 Rs” – Regret, Reassurance and Remedy 2. Have a crisis response plan…