Category Subscribers

Hesitant Steps For Broadcasting Treaty At WIPO; Study On Copyright Exceptions Praised

The protection of broadcasting organisation against signal piracy has been discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization for two decades. However technological advances might have made the draft treaty as it stands obsolete some say, while others maintain that the treaty should stick to its original intent, leading to difficult discussions on core principles. On another subject of the WIPO committee on copyright meeting this week, a draft study was presented mapping the copyright limitations and exceptions provisions for educational activities in most WIPO member states.

US President Signs New Trade Secrets Law

US President Barack Obama yesterday signed into law a measure aimed at strengthening trade secret protection including by allowing federal courts to hear cases involving trade secret theft.

William New
May 12, 2016

At WIPO, Music Industry Points Fingers At YouTube For Hiding Behind Safe Harbour

YouTube is recognised by many as the world’s biggest music platform. Listening to music on YouTube is free for users. However, according to the music industry, it pays very little in terms of revenue, mostly from advertising. It is time that the safe harbour laws behind which YouTube is hiding, creating a market distortion, be revised or better applied, music industry speakers asserted this week at a World Intellectual Property Organization side event.

Tech4Dev Conference: Translating Innovation Into Social Impact

New technologies are of limited value if they are not accessible. Thus the crucial challenge lies not only in promoting innovation, but in translating innovation into social impact. This was the theme of the fourth Conference on Technologies for Development (“Tech4Dev”).

Mara Pillinger
May 11, 2016

At UN Indigenous Forum, WIPO Gives Update On Negotiations

The World Intellectual Property Organization, a United Nations agency, today gave the UN in New York an update of ongoing negotiations for the protection of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources.

William New
May 10, 2016

Document Explains Decision Granting Sovaldi Patent To Gilead

A copy of the new Indian patent office order shows the details of the decision to reverse an earlier direction and grant a patent in India on the high-value hepatitis C drug. [Updated with response from Gilead]

Patralekha Chatterjee
May 10, 2016

WIPO Copyright Committee: Broadcasting, Exceptions, Stronger Artists’ Rights

This week, World Intellectual Property Organization members are picking up discussions on a possible treaty to protect broadcasting organisations against signal piracy. Also on the agenda is exceptions and limitations to copyright for certain users. And proposals for two new topics for committee discussion are expected to be considered.

WSIS2016: Software Licensing Matters – To Everybody

A special committee at the World Intellectual Property Organisation on software licensing, a globally harmonized software licence model and a dispute resolution system were among the ideas presented to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at panel it hosted at day one of the 2016 WSIS Forum meeting in Geneva.

Special Report: The Battle For Biosimilars In India

[story updated] Biosimilar drugs hold out big opportunities for India’s drug companies. But the future is fraught with challenges. One key challenge is regulations.

What does this mean for countries like India, an emerging market for biosimilars? How will the evolving global regulatory environment on biosimilars impact patients?

Last month, both these questions came to the fore as the battle over biosimilars moved centre stage in this country in the wake of an interim order by the Delhi High Court, and then another decision by a Division Bench of the same court which took a different view.

Measure Allowing Federal Courts To Handle Trade Secrets Claims Clears US Congress

Legislation authorising federal courts to hear cases involving theft of trade secrets passed the US House of Representatives on 27 April and is now headed for an expected signature by President Barack Obama. Final enactment of the “Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016” (DTSA), along with the 14 April adoption by the European Parliament of the EU Trade Secrets Directive, boosts protections on both sides of the Atlantic but not uniformly, intellectual property lawyers said.

Industrial Design Draft Treaty Does Not Make It To Last Mile At WIPO

Designers wanting to protect their industrial designs at the international level will have to wait some more before the application procedures can be harmonised after hopes to breach differences on a draft treaty were dampened yesterday at the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Catherine Saez
April 28, 2016

WIPO Members Urged To Overcome Differences On Disclosure Of Origin Of Designs

This week, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates are being urged to come closer on remaining issues in a potential treaty facilitating the registration of industrial designs for international applicants. This is easier said than done, though, as a number of WIPO members request that the treaty allows countries to request applicants to disclose the source of their designs, and other countries find this would defy the harmonising aim of the treaty.

Catherine Saez
April 26, 2016