Category Enforcement

Bark But No Bite? Antigua Talks Tough On WTO Gambling Case, But No TRIPS Remedy

The tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda again had strong words today for the United States’ seeming incalcitrant refusal to change its law or pay up in a World Trade Organization case it lost for blocking the island’s online gambling business. But Antigua stopped short of any direct threat to use the weapon it was given by the WTO dispute settlement panel: to stop protecting US intellectual property rights in the amount of the damages.

William New
June 18, 2014

New Paper On Common Issues In WIPO TK, Genetic Resources Talks

The chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge and genetic resources committee has circulated a draft paper on common issues in the negotiations, in hopes of bringing parties closer together ahead of the next committee meeting in July.

Catherine Saez
June 13, 2014

TRIPS Council Debates Non-Violations, Innovation, Green Tech Transfer

Whether countries can bring intellectual property complaints against each other under the World Trade Organization even if they don’t violate WTO rules was a topic of debate this week, but could not be resolved.

US Proposal Seeks To Allow Non-Violation Cases Under TRIPS Agreement

The United States confirmed its opposition to an indefinite extension of a moratorium shielding the World Trade Organization agreement on intellectual property from non-violation complaints through a paper presented to WTO members meeting today.

Catherine Saez
June 11, 2014

Fight The Fakes Campaign Grows, Now Includes Generics Companies

The Fight the Fakes campaign announced today the support of the Generic Pharmaceutical Association and 10 other new partners for its campaign to raise awareness worldwide about the dangers of fake medicines.

Julia Fraser
June 6, 2014
1 Comment

WIPO Chief Calls for Seamless, Global, Legal Digital Content Regime

ATHENS - In what the representative of a major consumer group called a “big step,” World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry on 6 June called for development of a seamless, global, legal, digital content marketplace that could offer the chance to bridge seemingly intractable copyright issues. Speaking at a conference in Athens hosted by the Greek EU Presidency on copyright and Europe's digital agenda, Gurry said the search for such a market should take the form of a dialogue that includes all stakeholders.

Innovation Hubs, Green Technology Transfer On Agenda Of TRIPS Council

The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee will meet next week with some new issues on the agenda. Ecuador has requested the continuance of a discussion on the transfer of green technologies, and Taiwan and the United States have proposed an agenda item on innovation incubators.

CJEU Removes Threat Hanging Over Internet Users

Thanks to the latest ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on a long-standing copyright case, millions of internet users across the EU can keep calm and carry on browsing websites.

JosÃ©phine De Ruyck
June 6, 2014

Libraries Can Digitise Books Without Consent, European Advocate General Says

Libraries can digitise individual books in their collections without the consent of rights holders, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice, Niilo Jääskinen, has written in his application in a case (C-117/13) pending at the Luxembourg Court.

Patentees Suffer Double Loss At US Supreme Court

The United States Supreme Court issued two important patent law decisions recently. Both unanimous rulings provided bad news to patentees, particularly patent trolls.

Steven Seidenberg
June 2, 2014

First Report Of The US Industry Copyright Alert System

The groundbreaking Copyright Alert System set up a year ago by internet service providers and copyright holders to stop unauthorised music and film downloads, saw 1.3 million alerts sent out in it its first 10 months, according to a new report. And it expects to double in size this year.

William New
May 30, 2014
1 Comment

UK IP Advisor Points To Online Search Engines To Do More Against Piracy

Search engines don't cause internet piracy but they could do more to stamp it out, the UK Prime Minister's intellectual property advisor says in a new paper.

Dugie Standeford
May 29, 2014