Category North America

US Supreme Court Review Of Bilski Could Reverberate Through Patent System

Last October, a United States appellate court shifted the country’s patent law dramatically, moving the nation closer to other countries’ standards on what inventions can be patented. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals (often called America’s “patent court”) overruled its own seminal precedent and sharply cut back on the types of methods and processes that are eligible for patent protection. The ruling put thousands of patents under a cloud, including many business method patents and financial method patents.

This controversial ruling will soon be reviewed by the US Supreme Court. The resulting decision in Bilski v. Doll could become a milestone in US patent law, with repercussions around the world.

USPTO Nominee Kappos Appears To Clear First Senate Hurdle

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday appeared to look favourably upon David Kappos, the Obama administration nominee for undersecretary of Commerce and director of the US Patent and Trademark Office. But in the process, Kappos showed possible weaknesses in separating himself from his job at IBM and the need for international diplomacy on IP enforcement.

Rumoured New US Ambassador To UN In Geneva A Major Obama Fundraiser

A Northern California academic and a top national fundraiser for President Obama may be the next US ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, according to sources. Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe, wife of eBay CEO and President John Donahoe, holds a law degree, two master’s degrees and a PhD in a variety of subjects, and is rumoured to be the nominee for the post empty since January.

OECD: Tech R&D, Innovation Hard-Hit By Economy, But May Be Turning Up

Information and communications technology (ICT) industries have been hard hit by the economic crisis but vary in the degree to which they have been able to sustain spending on research and development, according to a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Now there are signs the worst may be over for the sector if it can benefit from innovation to address social challenges.

EU Report Finds Fault With US Barriers To IP

The European Commission on Monday released a report finding fault with a number of United States practices related to intellectual property rights policy, on copyright, geographical indications, trademarks and patents. The report is an answer, one might say, to the US Special 301 report that criticises US trading partners it deems unilaterally to be insufficiently protecting its companies’ IP rights.

Special Report: The Swedish Author’s Take On The Catcher In The Rye Copyright Case

COPENHAGEN – Windupbird Publishing owned by Swedish author Fredrik Colting, alias John David California, promises that its books will “tickle your feet and yank your soul.” But American author J.D. Salinger is not amused and has indeed been wound up by Colting's latest book, which he says is infringing on the copyright of his best-seller, "Catcher in the Rye." A New York court recently sided with Salinger, but Intellectual Property Watch talked to Colting about why the battle is bound to go on.

G8: Amid Talks Of Climate, Economy, Food And Health Lies IP & Innovation

Leaders of the seven biggest economies and Russia (G8) at their annual summit this week in L'Aquila, Italy have made very cautious commitments with regard to the top issue, climate change, but views on intellectual property rights enforcement began to become clear on the second day. The summit so far has addressed issues related to trade, development, terrorism, and also innovation and IP.

Statements in the leaders' Wednesday declaration with regard to intellectual property called for a firm push for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which is unchanged from the past. But the G8 IP Expert Group (IPEG) on Thursday published the results of its discussion in which they went into more detail on some issues.

Video Wants To Be Free And Open Too: IP Policy Considerations

Video is becoming an increasingly important communication tool on the web, but questions must be asked about its future, said speakers a recent conference. Will it be a medium of self-expression, available for all, or a translation of television to the internet, where content is provided by some and consumed by the rest? A gathering of technologists, academics, filmmakers and others in New York last week issued a call for a freer video culture.