Category WIPO

WIPO To Tackle Lisbon Financing, External Offices, Development Expenditures

The World Intellectual Property Organization Program and Budget Committee meets next week to address several substantive issues. Among the issues to be discussed is the financing of the system of protection of geographical indications, which has been called into question by non-members of the system. Other topics are external WIPO offices, and if the WIPO coordination office in New York should be closed, what constitutes development expenditures in the budget, and how to implement a recommendation by the United Nations Joint Inspection Unit.

Catherine Saez
September 10, 2015
1 Comment

Encouraging The Use Of Patent Information… Through Research Competition?

Many developing countries lack enough human resources with the necessary skills to access patent information. Although patent documents are often unintelligible, strengthening the ability to search them in databases could help reduce information asymmetries in developing countries, Luis Gil Abinader writes.

Luis Gil Abinader
September 8, 2015

South African Government Conference Reveals Views On Draft Copyright Bill

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA -- Stakeholders from various positions of influence in the realm of intellectual property - including government - put a fine tooth comb through the South African Copyright Amendment Bill at a consultative conference called by the Department of Trade and Industry yesterday.

Linda Daniels
August 28, 2015
3 Comments

Algeria Joins Madrid Protocol, Triggers Global Easing Of Registration Of Marks

Trademark applicants should soon be able to make better use of the Madrid system for the registration of international trademarks, the World Intellectual Property Organization has announced. Algeria became the last country to join a protocol to the international trademark system, which will allow the protocol to rule the international registration procedures, making it easier for applicants to get global protection.

Catherine Saez
August 26, 2015
1 Comment

Review Of WIPO Development Agenda Implementation Picks Up Pace

An independent review of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s implementation of its 2007 Development Agenda Recommendations is progressing. A team of experts conducting the review, appointed by WIPO in May, just submitted their inception report to WIPO.

Catherine Saez
August 26, 2015
3 Comments

WIPO Launches Development Agenda Project In Uganda

KAMPALA, UGANDA - The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has launched a Development Agenda program in Uganda, aimed at building capacity in the use of appropriate technology, specific technical and scientific information to address development challenges in the country.

Hillary Muheebwa
August 25, 2015

WIPO Patent Committee Agrees On Future Work, After Uncertainty

The World Intellectual Property Organization patent law committee today agreed on work programme going forward that includes a balance of North-South issues such as patent quality, patents and health, client-attorney privilege, technology transfer, and exceptions to patents. Agreement on the work program was difficult despite a comparatively fast-moving week of progress on these same areas of work.

Catherine Saez
August 1, 2015

IP-Watch Seeks Part-Time Fundraising/Outreach Expert

Intellectual Property Watch is seeking a dynamic person to help expand our fundraising and outreach activities. [Position closed]

Intellectual Property Watch
July 31, 2015

Special Feature: Differences Over GIs Threaten 2016/2017 WIPO Budget Approval

The UN World Intellectual Property Organization is a member-driven agency set up to protect IP rights worldwide. In recent years, an area of dissension and debate has been how to make the organisation – and IPRs - friendlier to developing countries. This year, however, it has become a hotspot for the global debate between developed countries over protection of geographical indications, products of distinctive character deriving from specific locations.

William New
July 30, 2015
2 Comments

WIPO Model Law Needs Revision, Developing Countries Say; Developed Countries Reluctant

The World Intellectual Property Organization provides legislative assistance to developing countries and least-developed countries upon request by individual member states. This week at the WIPO patent law committee, the Latin American and Caribbean Group tabled a proposal to revise the 1979 WIPO model law for developing countries on inventions, arguing it is obsolete.

WIPO Patent Committee Searching For Common Ground For Future Discussions

After a slow start this week due to late approval of the agenda, the World Intellectual Property Organization patent law committee is now sailing through the proposed schedule. However, previous positions remain unchanged and the core issue of the session is to find common ground on the future work of the committee.

Catherine Saez
July 29, 2015

Panel: Biotech Industry Executives Shine Light On Their IP Management Strategies

“IP is a very crucial part of our business and I can’t imagine being in biotech without a very strong emphasis on intellectual property,” a biotech industry executive said during a panel organised at the World Intellectual Property Organization yesterday.

Rishi Dhir
July 29, 2015