Category IP-Watch Briefs

Two US Congressional Leaders Criticize WTO For Stance On Trade Remedy, Food Safety Measures

From a press release issued today: "House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) today sent a letter to World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, criticizing the WTO Secretariat’s stance on measures it views as protectionist, and urging the office to better support the rules-based global trading system."

William New
September 8, 2016
1 Comment

US Copyright Office Charged With Industry Bias

The United States Copyright Office systematically hires officials from the copyright industries it serves and oversees, while excluding experts with other views, a public interest group has charged. Image Credits: US Copyright Office

William New
September 8, 2016
1 Comment

Industry Proposals Contrary To Spirit Of Marrakesh Treaty, Libraries Say

An international group of librarians has warned that rights holder organisations in some countries are promoting provisions that restrict and impede the access envisaged by the Marrakesh Treaty providing exceptions to copyrighted works for visually impaired persons.

US Industry Warns Of Restrictive Policies In ICTs, Including On IP Rights

“Serious concerns” have been raised by the United States Chamber of Commerce that policy measures increasingly restrict investment in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, following its comprehensive examination of ICT laws and policies around the world. Intellectual property rights are among the areas the Chamber says are being targeted.

WTO, WHO, WIPO Host Discussions On Antimicrobial Resistance In October

Antimicrobial resistance has been described as a major threat to public health, as infections, even minor, might become killers again, if no new antibiotics are discovered. In October, the World Health Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization and World Trade Organization will join forces for a symposium organised to discuss how to foster innovation, and access.

Catherine Saez
August 24, 2016
1 Comment

A Test He Couldn’t Pass: College Admissions Expert Loses Domain

Get into Harvard? Not this way. That's the message of a World Intellectual Property Organization dispute panel after ruling the website harvard-review.com confusingly uses the name of a famous university in promoting skills training for college admissions tests, without authorisation.

William New
August 22, 2016
1 Comment

US Agencies Seek Comment On Updated Antitrust Guidelines For IP Licensing

In an age when licensing of intellectual property plays a critical role in business strategy, the United States Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission are seeking public comment on a proposed update of the antitrust guidelines for IP licensing.

William New
August 17, 2016
1 Comment

MSF Hearing On Opposition To Pfizer Pneumonia Patent In India

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) filed a patent opposition in March in India to prevent Pfizer from patenting a pneumonia drug and will defend its position in a hearing tomorrow at the Indian Patent Office.

US Senate Judiciary Chairman Questions High Cost Of Medicare Drug Coverage

United States Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, has demanded answers from the government Medicare programme regarding the rapid rise in costs of coverage of Americans’ prescription drugs. The demand follows a press report showing an extremely…

William New
July 27, 2016
2 Comments

MSF International Access Campaign Recruiting Executive Director Of Access Campaign

The Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International Access Campaign is recruiting an Executive Director (ED) of the Access Campaign.

Intellectual Property Watch
July 25, 2016

UNDP Initiative Seeks Impact-Driven Entrepreneurs From 10 Developing Countries

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a joint initiative with Impact Hub, an international community of social entrepreneurs. The initiative is a platform named "#Accelerate2030," aiming at supporting and promoting the most promising impact-driven ventures focusing on the UN Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs).

New French Law Opens Market For Non-Profits Selling Public Domain Seeds

New legislation on biodiversity has been adopted by the French National Assembly, opening doors for the sharing and selling of seeds in the public domain to amateur gardeners. For some associations that had been illegally trading public domain seeds, this is seen as a major victory.