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Sector - IP politics
Despite potential flaws proposed US patent transparency legislation is worth supporting
Legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives yesterday by Democrat Congressman Ted Deutch aims to greatly increase transparency of patent ownership. The End Anonymous Patents Act would, explained a press release, “require any sales or transfers of patents to be disclosed to the Patent and Trade Office [sic], along with a notice of the real party in interest filing by the purchasing entity. The same disclosure requirements would apply to new patents at the time they ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 18 May 2013 @ 12:51PM
Security concerns about Huawei could adversely affect many more than just one company
Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) agreed this week to cross-license operations support systems (OSS) technology. The proposed deal signifies a major commitment to cooperation between the companies – but it could yet be derailed by concerns in the US and Europe over national security and anti-competitive practices. The three signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this week with a view to jointly utilising the systems they have to manage multi-vendor ...
Posted by Jack Ellis, IAM Magazine on 17 May 2013 @ 4:03PM
Do not expect Europe's Unified Patent Court to be up and running until 2016 at the earliest
The UK’s ratification of the agreement to create a unified patent court (UPC) for Europe may not be subject to a referendum, but those expecting a quick sign-off from the British government look as if they are going to be disappointed. In fact, it looks as if the UK will not be in a position to ratify the treaty until the second half of 2015, meaning that it is quite possible that the UPC will not actually get underway until 2016. Yesterday, law firm Bristows – which has ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 17 May 2013 @ 7:51AM
Software patents come under mainstream political attack in Germany
A few weeks back we ran a blog that looked at the on-going influence of the IP-sceptic Pirate Party in German politics. Although the party has seen its opinion poll rating slump, we said, it has succeeded in persuading mainstream parties to explore more hostile policy platforms. One manifestation of this is in the growing attacks on software patents being made by politicians of all hues in the country’s Parliament. Yesterday, the legal affairs committee of the Bundestag ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 14 May 2013 @ 4:53PM
IP is just as much about collaboration as exclusivity for oncology tech companies
IP advocacy group Ideas Matter showcased the pivotal role of IP in the development of cancer treatments at an event in London today. Representatives from a number of companies active in the field of cancer diagnostics attempted to counter the arguments put forward by IP sceptics by explaining the importance of IP to funding, product development, cross-industry collaboration and ultimately improving the quality of life for cancer sufferers. Dr Deryk Williams, chief medical officer of ...
Posted by Jack Ellis, IAM Magazine on 14 May 2013 @ 3:38PM
The UPC dodges a UK referendum bullet
Last week the British government announced that it is to introduce legislation that will, among other things, “enable the UK to implement the Unitary Patent Court Agreement”. This, you will remember was signed in Brussels in February and mandates the creation of a unitary court system that will hear disputes relating to the EU patent. The press release put out to explain the government’s move stated: “The Court is a central part in introducing a single patent ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 13 May 2013 @ 1:54PM
No, New Zealand has not abolished software patents
There has been a lot of excited reporting over the last 24 hours to the effect that New Zealand has enacted legislation that will ban the granting of software patents in the country (you can see some examples here, here and here). However, before writing a story about this I thought I would contact someone in the country who would know the true situation. So I got in touch with Kate Wilson, a partner based in the Hamilton offices of specialist IP law firm James & Wells. As I ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 10 May 2013 @ 11:18PM
BT switches from privateering to licensing transparency
It emerged last week that BT has launched a campaign to license its patents covering SIP trunking, a key technology in the voice over internet protocol (VoIP) space. BT’s proposed licensing terms, as well as price points and a list of the 99 US patents it is seeking royalties for, can be viewed here. In contrast with the norm, the British company has outlined a comprehensive royalty payment structure on its website – possibly signifying the adoption of a new strategy ...
Posted by Jack Ellis, IAM Magazine on 09 May 2013 @ 12:00AM
USTR 301 report spells out big pharma’s Asian patent concerns
The office of the United States Trade Representative has just released its annual 301 Special Report, a review of the state of intellectual property rights and their enforcement around the world. Although comprehensive in scope, the report makes clear that compulsory licensing and its potential effects are of grave concern to the US government, as India, Indonesia, Thailand and even Canada are subjected to criticism. Indonesia recently announced a comprehensive compulsory licensing ...
Posted by Seher Hussain, IAM Magazine on 03 May 2013 @ 11:18AM
Getting the proposed EU patent system wrong would be unforgiveable
Lawyers, patent attorneys and industry representatives voiced their criticisms of a number of proposed reforms to the European patent systems at an event held in London this week. Panellists at a Westminster Legal Policy Forum seminar discussed reform in the European Union, with unitary patent plans awaiting ratification in at least 13 signatory states, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom before they can be implemented. In addition to concerns that the proposed system ...
Posted by Jack Ellis, IAM Magazine on 02 May 2013 @ 10:21AM
