Original news and analysis on international IP policy
RIO DE JANEIRO - Many of the technologies that can make the world more sustainable are available today. But how to transfer such green technologies to those most in need of them remains a question on which there are starkly divergent views - even after last week’s much-anticipated Rio+20 leaders’ summit.
At its annual meeting this week in Boston, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), put its name to a report promoting the advantages of intellectual property rights for the industry.
A draft of the outcome document for this week’s Rio+20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said to be close to the final version, shows where governments have placed their focus. It appears that technology transfer is well-recognised, intellectual property rights to a lesser extent, but firm actions in these areas may still be to come.
While the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office is reviewing the so-called "tomato case," collateral questions are being raised about the consequences on plant innovation of the non-patentability of some processes.
Informa has announced a range of upcoming events and courses on the essential aspects of intellectual property and technology of interest to Intellectual Property Watch readers. Here is the list:
Events:
IP Dispute Resolution - 28 - 29 June 2012, Grange City Hotel, London, UK
European Trademarks 2012 – 3rd July 2012, Grange City Hotel, London, UK
Protecting Corporate Information – 5th July 2012, One Drummond Gate, London, UK
IT Law Summer School 2012 – 30 July - 3 August 2012, Downing College, Cambridge, UK
IP Summer School - 13 - 17 August 2012, Downing College, Cambridge, UK
Distance Learning Courses:
Computer and Communications Law LLM, PgDip - from Queen Mary, University of London
UK, EU & US Copyright Law LLM, PgDip - from King's College London
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the patenting of essential biological processes.
One year since the adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, member states emphasised the importance of bio-sharing initiative and in some in cases raised concerns about the pace of implementation.
CIOPORA, an international association of plant breeders, held its annual meeting recently with a focus on novelties in plant patents introduced by the America Invents Act, to become effective on 16 March 2013.
BOSTON - Early stage innovation is still strong in the United States, but parties need to work better together and address bottlenecks in the middle stages, a panel of university and private sector experts said this week. Meanwhile, the president of global biotechnology company Genzyme said the industry is not in crisis and the company is hopeful about its recent merger with Sanofi.
The Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill currently in the in-tray of South African President Jacob Zuma and awaiting a signature, holds the hope that it will finally pave the way for the protection of the country's most famous red tea, Rooibos, as well as other local staples.