A new international treaty setting standards for trademark registration procedures will become effective in 2009 following its ratification by Australia on December 16, 2008. This is the tenth ratification of the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (“the Singapore Treaty”) and will allow the treaty to enter into force on March 16. 2009.
The approval by Member states of a revised program and budget on December 12, 2008 marked the start of a comprehensive program of strategic change in the direction and work of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) led by Director General Francis Gurry. The process aims to realign WIPO's programs, resources and structures with a new set of strategic goals, so as to enable the Organization to respond more effectively to the rapidly evolving technological, cultural and geo-economic environment.
WIPO’s Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT) concluded on December 5, 2008 after endorsing agreement on areas of convergence on “non-traditional marks” - such as holograms and audio marks - trademark opposition procedures, consideration of key issues relating to industrial designs, and new areas of work.
Portugal’s National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) will contribute 100,000 Euros in 2009 to support WIPO’s capacity building activities in African Portuguese speaking countries. A memorandum of understanding was signed to this effect on November 26, 2008, in Geneva between WIPO Director General, Francis Gurry and INPI President, Mr. António Campinos.
A conference on the future evolution of collective management of copyright and related rights in Europe has called on WIPO to step up efforts to help stakeholders address the emerging challenges facing collective management. Participants urged WIPO to strengthen the copyright infrastructure so as to support creative industries and promote social, economic and cultural development.
As part of a series of information sessions on life sciences and intellectual property (IP) policy, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is hosting a symposium on December 15, 2008 at its Geneva headquarters to explore national and institutional options for public sector management of IP in the life sciences.
The future evolution of collective management of copyright and related rights systems in Europe in an ever-expanding digital environment will be the focus of discussions at a conference organized by WIPO in association with the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) and in cooperation with the Association of European Performers’ Organisations (AEPO-ARTIS), and the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) on November 24-25, 2008 in Brussels.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a unique organization with a unique contribution to make in meeting the global challenges faced by the United Nations (UN) family, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon told WIPO staff during his first ever visit to the Organization’s Geneva headquarters on November 18, 2008.
Top government officials, representatives of the creative industries, civil society and academics will gather in Bali for a meeting organized jointly by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism on December 2 and 3, 2008 to examine the potential of the creative industries in Asia and the role intellectual property (IP) in harnessing the increasing value of this sector. Lord David Puttnam, British film producer and politician, will be the keynote speaker at the Conference. Lord Puttnam has produced award-winning films such as Chariots of Fire and Midnight Express.
WIPO member states meeting under the auspices of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights met from November 3 to 7 November 2008 to review a number of key copyright issues. Under the chairmanship of Mr. Jukka Liedes of Finland, the SCCR examined the current state of play WIPO’s work on limitations and exceptions, the protection of audiovisual performances and the protection of broadcasting organizations. Discussions also featured the question of access to copyright-protected content by visually impaired persons.