Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Stakeholders gathered this week to discuss a European approach to the governance of the internet in the lead-up to the next global forum on the issue.
The second European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) took place in Geneva on 14-15 September and brought together some 200 representatives.
The European Patent Office today announced four people in the running to replace its current president, Alison Brimelow, who is not seeking another term after hers expires on 30 June 2010.
The way the patent system is currently structured rewards slowness and low quality, but the needed changes will have to include a new revenue model, a top European patent official said today.
The European Commission Trade Directorate today adopted a "communication on enhancing the enforcement of intellectual property rights" within the European Union internal market that aims at greater coordination but stops short of new legislative measures.
Four recent Federal Circuit decisions suggest that small molecules are special and may be relatively unaffected by the US Supreme Court KSR decision, write Photon Rao and George Best.
L’action en justice intentée récemment contre le Bureau américain des brevets et des marques de commerce par une entreprise de biotechnologie et une fondation concernant des brevets sur les gènes associés au cancer a permis d’attirer l'attention de l’opinion internationale sur la question du brevetage des gènes humains, une pratique contre laquelle un groupe d'associations influentes a exprimé son opposition le 27 août.
The third amendment of China's patent law will enter into force from 1 October, 2009. In this article, Wenting Cheng explores the major changes in substantive requirements for patent grant, post grant enforcement and adaptation of Chinese patent law to international norms on the protection of intellectual property.
The Obama administration on Thursday announced several key changes related to intellectual property rights and trade.
A recent lawsuit involving patents on human genes related to cancer brought against the United States patent office, a biotechnology company and a foundation has attracted international attention to the issue of gene patenting, and on 27 August a group of influential associations voiced their opposition to such patents.
Undeterred by two previous decisions by Indian authorities holding that under Indian Patent Law, its leukaemia drug - Gleevec is not patentable, Novartis now wants to take the fight to the Indian Supreme Court. Meanwhile, also this week, sources say Indian authorities rejected applications for patents on two HIV/AIDS drugs, opening the way for cheaper generic versions to be developed and marketed.
Google’s settlement in the United States of copyright infringement claims by authors and book publishers faces strong opposition from European publishers. The deal does not apply to books outside the US and one Google official has suggested the need for a similar service in Europe. Could digital library Europeana be the solution? A 28 August European Commission policy statement addressed that concern and others.
Authorities in the European Union and the United States have recently taken a tougher stance against reverse payments - patent settlements whereby, according to many competition experts, dominant drug companies buy off potential rivals.