Category Themes

English, Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting, North America, Subscribers, Trademarks/Geographical Indications/Domains

Trademark Owners Take On Internet Search Engines

By Liza Porteus for Intellectual Property Watch
NEW YORK - Popular search engines like Google are proving to be formidable foes to trademark holders trying to maintain a strong grip on their property in keyword advertising on the Internet, experts said on 10 September.

There are numerous search engines people can use to look up information online, but Google is not only the most popular, it is also involved in a litany of lawsuits involving online ads and trademarks. So far, Google has prevailed in US courts, but has lost similar trademark cases in France.

Liza Porteus Viana
14/09/2007

Africa, English, Health & IP, Human Rights, News, Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets, Regional Policy, Venues

Kenyan Parliament To Debate Scrapping Compulsory Licensing Powers

By Paul Garwood Kenyan lawmakers are set to debate proposed amendments to a bill that, if passed, would prevent the government from issuing compulsory licenses to produce urgently needed medicines without seeking approval from the patent holder. The amendments, which…

Paul Garwood
12/09/2007

Access to Knowledge/ Education, Copyright Policy, English, Features, Human Rights, Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting

Data Mining: Consumers’ Convenience, Privacy’s End

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch LINZ, AUSTRIA – How distant is the realisation of a “prevision” and prevention culture as portrayed in the Steven Spielberg movie Minority Report? Telling the future is not as far off as critical…

Monika Ermert
12/09/2007

English, IP Law, North America, Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets, Subscribers, Themes

New USPTO Rules, Legal Decision Signal Changes For US Patent Practices

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch
New rules by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) governing the continuation of patent applications will wreak havoc in the biotechnology and high-tech sectors, according to some experts. The regulations, announced in August as part of a USPTO effort to boost patent quality, and effective on 1 November, are already being challenged in court.

In addition, US patent practice changes could arise from a 20 August judicial decision setting a new standard for determining when patent infringement is wilful or done knowingly.

Dugie Standeford
10/09/2007

Asia/Pacific, English, Europe, Features, Health & IP, Human Rights, Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets, Regional Policy, Venues, WTO/TRIPS

EU Split Arises Over Thai Effort To Obtain Cheaper Patented Drugs

By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch A dispute has erupted between two of the European Union’s most powerful institutions over Thailand’s decision to circumvent pharmaceutical patents in order to boost its supply of cheap medicines. Peter Mandelson, who holds…

Access to Knowledge/ Education, Copyright Policy, English, Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting, News, North America

US Internet Radio Royalty Deals Announced; Webcasters Seek Lower Rates

By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Despite recently trumpeted deals with SoundExchange, which collects fees for record labels and artists, large and small US webcasters say royalty rates for Internet music performances are still too high and should be…

English, Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting, Inside Views, ITU/ICANN, Venues

Acting To Protect Freedom of Expression At ICANN

By Dan Krimm The continuing saga at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) about policy for approving new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) is entering what may be its final stages this summer. There has been a stream…

William New
30/08/2007

Africa, Bilateral/Regional Negotiations, English, Features, IP Policies, Regional Policy, Technical Cooperation/ Technology Transfer, Venues, WIPO

Concern Arises Over Proposed Pan-African IP Organisation

By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen A proposal to set up a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organisation (PAIPO) though still in its infancy already faces opposition and concern, including from those who fear that Africa is signing up to stricter IP protection…

English, Health & IP, News, WHO, WTO/TRIPS

WHO Holds Online Hearing On Innovation, IP Project

By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The World Health Organization is inviting participation in a six-week online public hearing from anyone interested in commenting on an ongoing process on how to ensure treatments for neglected diseases mainly found in developing countries.…

Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen
17/08/2007

Access to Knowledge/ Education, Copyright Policy, Enforcement, English, Europe, Information and Communications Technology/ Broadcasting, News

Germany: Fight Escalates Over Copyright Fee For Computers

By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch The fight between German collecting rights societies and hardware companies is escalating. This week the CEO of the society for musical performing and mechanical reproduction rights, Harald Heker, heavily criticised the German Association…

Monika Ermert
17/08/2007