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Federal Circuit Ruling in Oracle v. Google Could Affect Global Software Industry
Google’s use of 37 of Oracle’s Java application programming interface (API) packages in its Android operating system infringed Oracle patents and copyright, the US District Court for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) said on 27 March. The latest decision in the long-running case was not unreasonable but could stifle software innovation, lawyers said.
Industry News
Coming To Your Door: USTR Trade Barriers Report Lists Concerns To Raise With Trading Partners
The newly released United States government annual report on trade barriers for US exports provides a laundry list of issues it views as inhibiting US products and services from being treated fairly or sufficiently protected in its key trading partners. Among the many issues are many concerns about intellectual property rights, digital trade, broadcasting, pharmaceuticals and more.
Industry News
WIPO Director Briefs Ambassadors On Results, Outlook
The director general of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization recently briefed ambassadors in Geneva on 2017 results and the outlook for the organisation and the IP field. Here's a preliminary look at what they were told.
Industry News
UK Industry Group Identifies “Cliff-Edge” Risks For IP In Brexit
A United Kingdom industry association today issued a report on "cliff-edge" risks to intellectual property rights protection from the Brexit separation of the UK from the European Union, and asks for assurance the issues will be considered.
Industry News
China-US Tensions Over IP Measures Rise At WTO Dispute Body
Another debate occurred today at the World Trade Organization between the United States and China over new US measures against China's alleged failure to fairly protect US intellectual property rights under domestic and international rules.
Industry News
Global Health Funding Flows As WHO, Gavi, Global Fund Benefit
Actions by governments in recent days show funding for global health continues to be a priority for some countries. Geneva-based institutions and their programs around the world are among the beneficiaries.
Industry News
At WTO, US Defends Actions Against China On IPR
The World Trade Organization is heating up as the global venue for nations to air concerns about others' increasing action to protect markets and restrict trade, including as it relates to intellectual property rights protection. Today, a committee saw WTO members questioning each others' practices, including the new actions by the United States to investigate China for failure to protect US IP rights and unfairly disadvantaging foreign companies in China. And a new WTO case filed by the United States comes as the US had been critical of the multilateral trade body, but comments made by the US delegation today show its determination to more broadly improve WTO dispute resolution.
Industry News
US Files WTO Case Against China For Violations Of Global Patent Rules
It has been considered for years that China has not been as strong as developed country trading partners in protecting intellectual property rights. Now, as China gains ground in building its own patent war chest, it has received a World Trade Organization challenge from the top patent-filing nation in the world, arguing that China's treatment of foreign companies' IP rights is unfavourable and its policies violate international trade rules.
Industry News
Revision Of WIPO Draft Treaty On Genetic Resources Advances, Heads For Next Meeting
After a difficult start to the week, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates on 23 March agreed on a revision of a set of articles of a potential treaty preventing the misappropriation of genetic resources through IP protection. The revised text will serve as a basis for further discussions at the next session of the WIPO committee dealing with the protection of genetic resources, in June. [Update: list of decisions now posted]
Industry News
New Draft Text On Final Day Of WIPO Committee On Genetic Resources; Expert Group Proposed
After the first suggested revision of potential treaty articles preventing the misappropriation of genetic resources was sent back to the drawing board this week, the second revision emerged today, for consideration by the World Intellectual Property Organization member states. Separately, a proposal by the committee chair to establish an expert group to meet prior to the next session of the committee meeting was positively received.
