Original news and analysis on international IP policy
A United Nations meeting gathering ministers, high-level representatives, scientists and technology experts opened yesterday with a discussion of the impacts that rapid innovative trends in science and technology have on development, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and humanity itself.
The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property opened today with an agenda of issues such as the development dimension of IP, technology transfer, and how WIPO can participate in the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, new development projects proposed for WIPO work would focus on women, software, and tourism.
Government agencies do not ordinarily relinquish power easily, or without a struggle. But these are not ordinary times in the USA. Trump appointees have pushed a variety of federal agencies – including Interior, EPA, and HUD – to surrender much of their powers. Yesterday, the USPTO joined that list, when it announced proposed new regulations that would weaken the agency’s review of existing patents.
The copyright committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization is meeting at the end of May with some complex issues on the agenda that may see new approaches for moving them forward, including the protection of broadcasting organisations, and limitations and exceptions to copyright for certain actors such as libraries and archives. Daren Tang, the chair of the committee, and chief executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), recently engaged in an interview with Intellectual Property Watch's Catherine Saez, providing his insights on the discussions, changes in the world affecting copyright, and what to expect of the next session of the committee.
The annual report of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the adequacy of trading partners’ protection of US intellectual property rights celebrated its 30th year this year with a sharper tone with China, in keeping with the Trump administration’s tough stance on the country. Also caught in the report are Colombia and Canada, which were downgraded to the “priority watch list.” Also, this year the report includes a special highlight on pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
The United Kingdom has ratified the Unified Patent Court Agreement that will allow "a single judgment in cross-border disputes between private parties over patents granted under the current intergovernmental system." The system is administered by the European Patent Office, and the UK's ratification leaves Germany outstanding.
The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks concluded early today with plans for further work and a full week session for the next meeting. Member states are called into action to provide inputs so that the WIPO secretariat can come up with questionnaires on the protection of new technological designs, such as icons, and on the protection of geographical indications. Another issue for which member states are asked to contribute inputs in how to protect country and geographical names.
LONDON -- Biosimilars, supplementary protection certificates and European Patent Office patent quality are among the priority issues for the generic drug manufacturing sector, speakers said Wednesday at a Medicines for Europe conference.
United States Patent and Trademark Office inter partes reviews are legal and do not violate Article III of the Constitution or the 7th Amendment, the US Supreme Court said today. While the decision was expected, practitioners before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board can now rest easy, as one patent lawyer put it.
New technological designs, such as symbols, visual metaphors, and pointing devices are on the menu of this week’s meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks. The protection of country names against registration as trademarks and their use on the internet, and geographical indications are also prominent topics, and an information session will be held tomorrow. Discussions on a potential industrial design treaty will be kept for the WIPO General Assembly this fall.