In discussions about a possible WIPO Treaty for persons who are blind or have other reading disabilities, there have been suggestions by some that voluntary licensing by rights holders presents a sufficient solution to the problem. I studied several publications since 1985 to take a closer look at this viewpoint and find out what were the common perceptions.
USTR head Ambassador Ron Kirk made another speech on intellectual property on September 30, 2009. The text of his speech is here. Below are a few relevant quotes.
On October 2, 2009, KEI submitted the following request to CDC, regarding IP aspects of pandemics:
——– Forwarded Message ——–
From: James Love
To: FOIARequests@cdc.gov
Subject: FOIA Request, IP aspects of pandemics
Date: Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:36:44 -0400
On October 1, 2009 the WIPO General Assembly renewed the mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee on Generic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore. Here below is the consensus decision reached by the General Assembly.
Bearing in mind the Development Agenda recommendations, the WIPO General Assembly agrees that that the mandate of the WIPO intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore be renewed as follows:
Malini Aisola has written some background on the Bilski case here. Today KEI filed a friend of the court brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case. A copy of our brief as filed is available here.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
INTEREST OF AMICUS CURIAE
THE GOAL OF THE PATENT REGIME IS NOT TO REWARD INVENTORS, BUT TO ENCOURAGE PROGRESS
On September 2009, KEI made a first attempt to FOIA documents related to WIPO negotiations on copyright exceptions for person who are blind or have other disabilities.
September 30, 2009.
USPTO FOIA Officer
United States Patent and Trademark Office
PO Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
efoia@uspto.gov
This is the general statement delivered by the representative of the World Blind Union today (September 29, 2009) at the WIPO General Assemblies.
WBU statement:
The World Blind Union is the worldwide organisation representing the interests of 160 million blind and partially sighted persons in 177 member countries.
IGC is short for “The WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore. The IGC
was established by the WIPO General Assembly in October 2000 (document WO/GA/26/6) as an international forum for debate and dialogue concerning the interplay between intellectual property (IP), and traditional knowledge (TK), genetic resources, and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs)/(folklore).
The following is the statement read by the U.S. on the topic of the renewal of the IGC Mandate: