Category Enforcement

GIs Rub Against Trademark Protection In WIPO Discussions On Protection

Cognac, porto and tequila are appellations of origin protected under an international agreement managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization. Members of this agreement are seeking to modify it so it attracts a wider membership, in particular by including geographical indications. The exercise, however, is a complicated one as the new agreement has to be in tune with other international agreements, notably the World Trade Organization agreement on intellectual property.

UNCTAD Handbook: IP And The CBD Protocol On Genetic Resources

The Nagoya Protocol, adopted under the Convention on Biological Diversity, provides a set of rules to prevent misappropriation of genetic resources. As such, it crosses paths with the international intellectual property system. This interface is the subject of a handbook to be published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Industry List Of Potential US GIs Released Ahead Of WIPO Meeting

A producers' group lobbying in favour of geographical indications has issued a preliminary list of candidate GIs in the United States. The list, released just prior to a World Intellectual Property Organization negotiation on a possible instrument on GIs, takes a particular look at American wines.

Anti-Counterfeiters Focus On Organised Crime, Softer Public Message

Istanbul - The unsuspecting consumer must above all be protected against counterfeit products, speakers said today at meeting of private sector, intergovernmental and governmental representatives. But increasingly organised crime is dealing the products, and anti-counterfeiting forces need to be as innovative as possible to defeat it. Fortunately, the private sector is ready to step up to help cash-strapped governments, and it is taking the “respect for IP” message to … children.

Global Public-Private Partnerships Against IP Crimes: How Interpol Avoided The Failures Of WCO And WHO

Christopher J. Paun writes: Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are often used as a way of increasing public policy options by tapping into private sector resources. This occurs also in the field of intellectual property. There are several examples of Global PPPs against IP crimes - some more successful than others. Some prominent failures received a lot of attention when PPP activities were stopped following controversy about global IP policy.

WIPO Delegates Progressing On Once-Moribund Broadcasting Treaty

A meeting meant to advance discussions on a treaty to protect the rights of broadcasting organisations held last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization yielded substantive results, according to the meeting chair. However, civil society remains cautious about potential side effects of such an instrument, while countries appear to have divergent views on the practicalities of the treaty.

Debate In Beijing: ICANN As Online Content Regulator?

The publication by governments of additional safeguards for new top-level domains at this week‘s 46th meeting of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) sparked warnings that the private net management body should avoid becoming a content regulator.

Questions Follow Sharp Rise In Investor-State Disputes, Far-Reaching Cases

At an unprecedented rate, private companies are using "investor-state" provisions in trade agreements negotiated by governments to challenge foreign government regulations, often made on behalf of the public, a United Nations report has found. And the majority of target governments are developing or transition economies, most of the time being challenged by companies in developed countries.