Category Enforcement

New Proposal For Inclusion Of Disclosure Requirement In Design Treaty; Group B Still Not Takers

The draft text of a treaty to help international designers apply for protection has been on the table at the World Intellectual Property Organization for some time, and has been under discussion again this week. Two questions have prevented its completion. One is whether technical assistance for developing countries should be part of the text, and the other is how to accommodate a request for a provision allowing countries to ask for disclosure of the origin of the design, to prevent misappropriation.

Catherine Saez
November 17, 2015

WHO Member State Mechanism On Fake Medicines Meeting This Week

This week the World Health Organization member state mechanism on falsified medicines is meeting in Geneva with a long agenda. In particular, the meeting is expected to consider a process for the mechanism review, the participation of the WHO in a global committee on the quality of health products, and several proposals including tracking systems and awareness campaigns.

Catherine Saez
November 17, 2015

Geographical Indications, Design Law Treaty Up Next At WIPO

The controversial issue of geographical indications returns to the World Intellectual Property Organization stage this week, as the WIPO trademark committee is expected to consider a new document put forward by the United States, and a proposal from France. The meeting comes just weeks after GIs dominated the annual WIPO General Assembly, nearly leading to suspension of the UN agency’s budget before an all-night session ended in agreement there.

Also on the agenda next week is a potential treaty on industrial designs that could be on its way to a final treaty negotiation (diplomatic conference) in 2017.

Catherine Saez
November 14, 2015
3 Comments

Governments, Industry Offer Mixed Hope For Multilateral IP Policymaking

WASHINGTON, DC -- The sun may be setting on multilateral policymaking in intellectual property in the eyes of industry, but leading United States and European Union representatives insist on its continued vital role in trade and economy. But a “new narrative” is needed as they emphasise bilateral and plurilateral agreements.

William New
November 11, 2015
1 Comment

EU Trademark Reform Advances; Dutch Warn Of Holdup Of Goods In Transit

The European Union Council of ministers today adopted its position on the reform of the European trademark system. The Netherlands delegation abstained from voting out of concern that the proposed reform introduces the possibility to stop goods in transit for possible intellectual property infringement.

Catherine Saez
November 10, 2015
1 Comment

LDC Coordinator Thanks WTO For ‘Accountability To Humanity’ On Pharma IP

Last week's decision by a World Trade Organization committee to allow least-developed countries to not apply global IP rules for pharmaceuticals for 17 more years made WTO members accountable to humanity, the coordinator of the LDC Group has said. Pharmaceuticals are different from all other forms of IP, he said.

William New
November 8, 2015

‘One Battleship Has Arrived In Port’ – A Japanese View On The TPP

The TPP is done, or not quite. But what is still lacking, what are next steps and what does the finalised deal do to the grand picture of the mega-trade deal landscape? Japanese economist Nakagawa Junji, Professor of International Economic Law Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo, shares a view from Japan with writer Monika Ermert.

Monika Ermert
November 7, 2015
1 Comment

LDC Pharma IP Waiver Until 2033 Approved By WTO TRIPS Council

After two weeks of high level negotiations between the United States and the Group of Least-Developed Countries, the World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property rights today agreed to extend a waiver allowing LDCs to avoid applying and enforcing IP rights on pharmaceutical products until 2033.

Catherine Saez
November 6, 2015
3 Comments

TPP Text Is Out, Finally, With Lots Of Bilateral Specialities

Four weeks after the finalisation of the agreement, the final text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was finally released by the United States and other partners of the first of the regional mega-trade deals. The parties hurried to underline the success of the negotiations, but early reactions were deeply divided.

Monika Ermert and William New
November 6, 2015

Northern Tanzania Maasai Land Loss Threatens Indigenous Knowledge

NAIROBI, Kenya - After a five year gruelling court battle, the indigenous Maasai community in Northern Tanzania has lost the right to its traditional land after the High Court handed it to a US-based tourism company in a court ruling on 27 October.

Fredrick Nzwili
November 4, 2015
8 Comments

17 Year Exemption From Pharmaceutical Patents Agreed At WTO – TWN

From Third World Network: London, 3 Nov (Sangeeta Shashikant) The United States and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at the World Trade Organization have reached agreement ad referendum on a pharmaceutical patent exemption for a duration of 17 years, according to trade diplomats.

Russia To Better Protect IP Of Its Innovative Companies Abroad

The Russian government is considering a package of measures aimed at better protecting intellectual property of Russian innovative companies abroad, according to an official spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Communications.

Eugene Gerden
November 2, 2015