The USPTO’s green paper on “Copyright Policy, Creativity and Innovation in the Digital Economy” surveys current copyright law and notes that there are several areas where reform may be welcome. In many of these areas, the USPTO green paper demonstrates an openness to discussion on these issues or support existing efforts and proposals. Despite this support in some areas for reform and despite the USPTO’s involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiating process, there are several areas where the United States’ position in the TPP could hinder such reform. Continue Reading →
The October 25, 2012 NIH March-In Request for ritonavir is now more than one year old, and the NIH has not decided to grant a hearing or reject the petition.
More information about the March-In request is available here:
At the request of the European Union, Jamaica, Mexico and the United States of America, the topic of “Intellectual Property and Sports” was placed for discussion at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) October 2013 session of the Council for TRIPS (TRIPS Council).
15 frequently asked questions about the 2012 ritonavir March-In petition
Q1. What is the Bayh-Dole Act?
The Bayh-Dole Act (or University and Small Business Patent Procedures Act) was originally enacted in 1980 as Public Law 96-517, and was amended in 1984 by Public Law 98-620. Among other things, the Bayh-Dole Act was designed to facilitate the patenting of U.S. government funded inventions by universities, other non-profit entities and businesses, and also:
Introduction
I. Scope of Patentability
II. Evergreening Patents
III. Patent Trolls
IV. Presumption of Validity
V. Injunctions
VI. Exclusive Rights Over Test Data
VII. Patent Linkage
VIII. Delinkage/Positive Agenda
Conclusion
At the October 2013 WTO TRIPS Council, Venezuela delivered the following intervention on intellectual property and sports noting that the WTO should not duplicate WIPO negotiations on a possible treaty for the protection on broadcasting organizations.
USPTO has confirmed that on October 2, 2013, the United States has signed the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled. The U.S. signing, which was not accompanied by a press release, took place on the last day of the WIPO General Assembly, and one day after the United States government began to shut down non-essential operations as a consequence of disputes over the Affordable Care Act.
