New FAO Chief Accepts GMOs, Not Seed Monopolies
The newly elected head of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization today expressed tolerance for genetically modified crops but not for monopolies on seeds.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category IP-Watch Briefs
Twelve More Nations, EU, Sign Nagoya Protocol
Twelve more countries and the European Union have signed the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources.
Mexican Senate Urges Rejection Of ACTA
The Mexican Senate this week approved a resolution rejecting the secretly negotiated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, citing absence of inclusion in the negotiations, potential negative impact on internet users' access to knowledge, freedom of expression and other concerns.
EU’s Kroes Not Amused By ICANN Decision On New TLDs
By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch European Commission Vice President and Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes is not satisfied with the decision of the ICANN Board in Singapore this week to open up the domain name space for new…
ICANN Board Approval Opens Internet To Many New Domains
The Board of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) today approved the Applicant Guidebook for new generic top-level domains, opening the door to potentially hundreds of new internet domains, like .africa, .music, .gay or .nyc.
EFF: Judge Dismisses Copyright “Troll” Case
A US judge ruled yesterday that copyright “troll” Righthaven lacked legal authorisation to bring an infringement lawsuit because it did not have ownership of the copyright in question, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The case could have an impact on the future prospects of so-called copyright troll cases, EFF said.
Merck Donates Natural Products Library For Research
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck will donate its entire library of natural products to the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research along with a grant, the institute announced this week. The library, one of the world's largest, will be open for researchers around the world.
New Fund To Help Ratify And Implement Nagoya Protocol
A new fund has been established to help developing countries ratify and implement the Nagoya protocol on access and benefit sharing, the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) said last week.
A2K Standards Proposed For UN Consumer Guidelines
Consumers International today invited comments and proposals for a set of proposed amendments to include access to knowledge standards in the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection.
Let The WIPO Dialogues Begin!
Negotiators at the UN World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva will have a new conference hall in which to debate in 2013, with construction starting this summer, according to a press release.
Partnership To Share Research, Keep IP Rights, On Neglected Diseases
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) signed an agreement with pharmaceutical manufacturer Sanofi on 30 May for a three-year research project on nine neglected tropical diseases that will come with intellectual property rights on research results for both sides, according to a press release from the international organisation in Switzerland.
WHO Board Lays Out Steps To UN Agency’s Reform
The World Health Organization Executive Board last week requested more details on the organisation's planned reform and established a consultative process for the reform, according to sources.