Posts filed under 'International Intellectual Property/Cyberlaw'
October 7th, 2008 at 10:00am
The United States ratified on October 1 the Singapore Treaty on the Law on Trademarks. The Singapore Treaty, concluded under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in March 2006, marks international efforts to update the 1994 Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) in light of changing trademark practices. Over 50 countries have signed the Treaty, which will enter into effect when 10 contracting parties (countries or qualifying intergovernmental organizations) ratify it. The US is the eighth party to finalize the ratification process.
For further information, please click here.
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March 8th, 2008 at 01:46am
Members of the International Chamber of Commerce’s Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP) Committee have asked US Trade Representative Susan Schwab to speed the development of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). CEOs of member companies gathered on March 3 to unveil recommendations for the ACTA and a set of in-country strategies aimed at fighting counterfeiting in Russia, China, the United States, the UK, Canada and Germany. BASCAP also announced a consumer education campaign which will inform the public of the damage caused by trade in counterfeit goods. The group also agreed to work with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The ACTA is currently being developed by the US, Canada, the EU, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and Switzerland. ICC Secretary General Guy Sebban hopes that ACTA will become the new “gold standard” in IP enforcement. The meeting of BASCAP included top executives from GE, Microsoft, Pfizer, Unilever and other corporations. The ICC announcement is available here.
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March 5th, 2008 at 09:46pm
This past year, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) received 39,945 international trademark applications under the Madrid System for the international registration of trademarks. That number, which is an all-time high for applications under the Madrid System, is a 9.5% increase from the 2006 totals, and, according to WIPO Director General Dr. Kamil Idris, indicates that “the Madrid system has earned the trust and confidence of the business community as a reliable option for brands seeking export markets.”
The WIPO-administered Madrid System for the international registration of trademarks provides a trademark owner with a cost-effective and efficient way to have a mark protected across countries. The system allows owners to secure and maintain protection for their trademarks in up to 80 countries by filing one application, in a single language , with one set of fees.
Notably, China was again the most designated country in international trademark application, as a result of increased trade by foreign companies there.
To read more, click here.
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February 18th, 2008 at 05:48pm
As part of the 2005 Action Plan for Nanotechnology, the European Commission has adopted seven principles that will guide research in that field. The principles are: meaning; sustainability; precaution; inclusiveness; excellence; innovation and accountability. The EC adopted these principles following the results of its July 2007 consultation on the Code of Conduct. Their aim is to minimize the potential hazards of nanotechnology research, provide transparency to the public and guarantee high quality scientific work that will lead to important technologies.
The European Commission is the world’s largest single funding agency for nanotechnology and nanosciences research, with 1.4 billion Euros allocated to 550 projects. More information on its nanotechnology initiatives is available here.
See the original press release here.
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November 18th, 2007 at 06:03pm
Earlier this year, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a key resolution calling for a study on the patent issues related to influenza viruses, genes, and pandemic preparedness. Thus, at the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has offered its expertise and technical input on patent issues relating to influenza viruses and their genes. WIPO’s contributions do not include specific recommendations, but offer a technical study on specific patent issues and comprehensive factual resources on IP matters as they relate to public health. This technical contribution is designed to support efforts of health policymakers as they set future directions for a global response that may help pre-empt and contain a potential public health crisis.
For the full brief, click
here.
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November 18th, 2007 at 11:44am
The Supreme Court of Canada finally decided the much anticipated Dell Computer Corp. v. Union des consommateurs case. Online retailer Dell attempted to object to a class action commenced in Québec by relying on a National Arbitration Forum arbitration clause, mentioned only in the terms and conditions of its website. Dell argued that the customer who had initiated the class action was bound by an enforceable arbitration agreement and that this clause allowed the customer only to bring an individual claim before an arbitral tribunal. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s decision by holding the arbitration clause enforceable, dismissed the class action and referred the consumer’s claim to arbitration.
For full story click here
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April 9th, 2007 at 07:18pm
The Office of the United States Trade Representative today announced that, on Tuesday, it would file a case against China for deficiencies in its protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. The U.S. also filed a second suit, seeking to eliminate distribution barriers for literary and audiovisual products.
The press release is here.
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April 4th, 2007 at 07:35am
Yesterday, April 3, The European Commission of the EU issued a communication to the European Parliament and Council on the subject of a European patent system. The communication calls for a single Community patent and an integrated jurisdictional system for patents in the European market.
A press release is here; the English version of the 22-page communication can be found here.
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March 23rd, 2007 at 08:41am
The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has adopted a report regarding legislation that would impose criminal sanctions for the infringement of intellectual property rights. The proposed directive will next go before the April plenary session. A press release is here; the report can be found here.
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February 13th, 2007 at 11:44am
Newspapers are reporting that the Brussels Court of First Instance has ruled against Google in a lawsuit brought by Belgian newspapers. The newspapers had claimed that Google was violating their intellectual property rights by posting the headlines of, and links to, the newspapers’ websites. Google has said that it will appeal.
The International Herald Tribune’s coverage is here.
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