Public Health Considerations Should Guide Patent Examination, Paper Argues
Patent offices should align their work in support of national health and medicines policies when carrying out the examination of patents, a new South Centre paper argues.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category IP-Watch Briefs
European Parliament Votes Down Net Neutrality Amendments
By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch After another heated debate, the European Parliament today voted down several amendments aimed at strengthening network neutrality in the new telecommunications package which has been on the agenda of the European Union for…
US Copyright Office Draft Strategic Plan For Next Five Years
The United States Copyright Office has issued a draft strategic plan for 2016-2020, with a 30-day comment period. The draft strategic plan is available here. The United States Copyright Office “supports a vibrant marketplace of creativity and innovation that, in…
“Silence Is Too Often The Only Safe Option Left” – UN Report On Sources And Whistleblowers
Governments and international organizations are failing to ensure adequate protections to whistleblowers and sources of information, according to a new report* by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye.
CEIPI Event – Is Copyright In The EU Fit For The 21st Century?
The Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI) of the University of Strasbourg welcomes the Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the Digital Single Market, Andrus Ansip, for a conference-debate on the topic of the future copyright reform in the EU: “Is copyright in the EU fit for the 21st century?”.
Evolution Of The Copyright Exceptions And Limitations Provision In The TPP
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement contains an important provision concerning achieving balance in the copyright systems of the twelve countries party to that free trade agreement. This provision was not present in the early draft of the agreement. Then, in…
Infojustice.org: Google Books And Feist-y Fair Use
From infojustice.org: Judge Pierre Leval’s opinion [on 16 October] in the Google Books case offers another fascinating glimpse into the richness of his thinking about the concept of fair use. Although the outcome in Google Books (Google wins, duh) was obvious to anyone whose paycheck didn’t depend on their believing otherwise, the discussion that gets us there sheds light on a host of hot fair use topics in ways that courts and copyright wonks will be citing and unpacking for years to come.
EPO Still In Turmoil As Supervisory Body Backs Dismissal Of High-Level Staff
The European Patent Organisation has been in turmoil for years facing serious staff dissent and complaints aimed at EPO President Benoît Battistelli of France. The EPO's effort appears to have intensified in recent months, and on Friday the EPO Administrative Council, the agency's supervisory body, announced an action to back Battistelli and endorsed a request for the dismissal of a high-level staff member. The action sent critics to new levels of criticism.
Health Groups Urge EU Commission To Safeguard Access To Medicines In Developing Countries
Health Action International (HAI) and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF – Doctors without Borders) today issued a joint report on European Union commitments to safeguard access to medicines. Their report [pdf] comes in the context of the revision of the European Union’s trade and investment policy, released today.
OECD Innovation Report Urges Governments To Stop Policies Unduly Favouring Incumbents
An Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report released today sets out principles governments can adopt to boost innovation, thereby increasing productivity and economic growth.