WIPO SMEs Newsletter August 2014
By the SMEs Section of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
WIPO SMEs Newsletter is a monthly e-publication providing readers with useful intellectual property (IP) information contained in articles, case studies, forthcoming IP/SMEs relevant events, and published presentations featured on our web site. We hope you will find it useful and informative. We encourage you to share the newsletter or items of interest with friends and colleagues. If you have received this newsletter from someone and would like to subscribe yourself, then simply visit our website https://www.wipo.int/sme/en/. Also for past issues and information on the activities of the SMEs Section, please visit https://www.wipo.int/sme.
News
Ratification by China of Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances, Inauguration of WIPO China Office
China is the fifth contracting party to the Beijing Treaty, named after the city that hosted the diplomatic conference that concluded the pact in 2012. The treaty shores up the rights of performers in audiovisual works, such as films, TV series or musicals. The Beijing Treaty will enter into force after 30 ratifications or accessions are presented to WIPO.
During his official visit to Beijing from July 9 to 11, 2014, WIPO Director General Mr. Gurry took part in the inauguration of the new WIPO China Office. This office will provide legal and technical assistance on all aspects of industrial property and copyright and related rights to various Government authorities and institutions. It will also promote use of WIPOs services and provide assistance for more efficient use of WIPOs Patent Cooperation Treaty, the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs as well other WIPO services.
Customized Version in Croatian of Looking Good: An Introduction to Industrial Designs for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
The State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia (SIPO) has published the customized version in Croatian of the IP for Business guide, Looking Good: An Introduction to Industrial Designs for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). This publication is now available on the WIPOs SMEs Website.
Ensuring the Safe Flow of Energy
Serving as a stream of life for communities large and small, pipelines go largely unnoticed but are vital for economic development and prosperity. Traveling across oceans, forests, deserts, and cities, maintenance of these pipelines is essential for the well being of the Earths environment and the plants, animals, and people that inhabit it. By developing and commercializing a unique invention through technology transfer and protecting it with the IP system, PipeWay has not only become a successful SME, but it has also ensured that communities continue to develop thanks to stable access to energy and thousands of kilometers of pipelines that remain safe and continue to go largely unnoticed.
Resources on IP Asset Management IP PANORAMA Multimedia Toolkit
The IP PANORAMA multimedia toolkit is now available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Hungarian, Vietnamese and Thai versions on or through the pages at https://www.wipo.int/sme/en/multimedia/ and http://www.ippanorama.com/.
CD-ROMs of the English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic versions are also available on request. Anyone interested in receiving a free copy of the CD-ROM may email publications.mail@wipo.int providing the full postal address, including telephone number, and indicating the purpose for which the CD-ROM would be used. Please note that requests without complete postal address will not be processed.
Links
Geographical Indications: An Introduction
This WIPO publication provides an introduction to geographical indications (GIs), explaining their basic features, use and protection as an intellectual property right. Written for non-experts, it is a starting point for readers seeking to learn more about the topic. While the publication focuses primarily on the protection of GIs as an intellectual property right, it also addresses the economic and social dimensions of GIs and responds to the questions most frequently raised by policymakers, producers and other stakeholders who wish to begin the process of developing a GI scheme for a product
Download this publication in English, French, Spanish
TRIPS: Geographical Indications: Background and the current situation
Two issues are debated in the TRIPS Council under the Doha mandate: creating a multilateral register for wines and spirits; and extending the higher (Article 23) level of protection beyond wines and spirits.
Read more in English, French, Spanish
Guide to: Linking Products and their Origins
With only 10% of the worlds protected geographical indications coming from developing countries, there is great potential to use this tool to reduce poverty through trade. This book, published by the International Trade Centre (ITC), is targeted to the business sector in developing countries on this topic. It draws from eight case studies and 200 published reports to provide valuable insights on how to set up and monitor geographical indications, share costs and benefits, and interpret legal frameworks.
Download this publication in English, French, Spanish
Study on Geographical Indication protection for non-agricultural products in the Internal market
This study, by Insight Consulting, with REDD and OriGIn, is a contribution to the European Commissions evaluation of the feasibility of the protection of Geographical indications for non-agricultural products in the internal market.
Public consultation on a possible extension of geographical indication protection of the European Union to non-agricultural products Making the most out of Europes traditional know-how
This public consultation is part of the European Commissions evaluation of the opportunity and feasibility of the extension of the Geographical indication (GI) protection at European Union (EU) level for non-agricultural products. Stakeholders are invited to reply the questions contained in the green paper and to share their views on the areas identified in the document. The green paper inquires about existing GI protection provided at national and EU level, as the case may be, and about the potential benefits of extended, unitary protection across the whole EU. The green paper also contains technical questions as to the possible options that could be considered.
Read more and download the green paper in English, French, Spanish and other EU languages
The treatment of Geographical Indications in recent WTO discussions and in regional and bilateral free trade agreements
GIs have been under the spotlight of international trade discussions since the adoption of the TRIPS Agreement. These discussions have proved to be very controversial in the WTO as well as in other fora. The objective of this document is to analyze the treatment of GIs in the WTO and in the new generation of regional and bilateral free trade agreements (RTA/FTAs) as well as the content of the new standards being set.
Trade Secrets: the other IP right
What kind of intellectual property (IP) is most often relied on by business to protect competitive advantage? Most people would answer with one of the best known areas of IP: patents, copyright, trademarks or designs. But they would be wrong. The most common form of protection used by business is secrecy.
Eight Great Technologies: Quantum Technologies
This report gives an analysis of the worldwide patent landscape for quantum technologies. In terms of patent landscaping, these technologies fall into the distinct technology areas of quantum telecommunications, quantum computation, quantum sensors and quantum timing and atomic clocks. The datasets used for analysis were extracted from worldwide patent databases following detailed discussion and consultation with patent examiners from the UK Intellectual Property Office who are experts in these fields and who, on a day-to-day basis, search, examine and grant patent applications relating to these quantum technologies.
Summary of the Study on Patents Role in Business Strategies: Research on Chinese Companies Patenting Motives, Patent Implementation and Patent Industrialization
Based on the patent surveys in China from 2008 to 2012, this research examines the role patents play in Chinese companies business strategies and operations and attempts to identify the factors affecting patent application, implementation and industrialization. The research finds that Chinese companies continue to focus on patent implementation and industrialization in their business strategies, but have begun to develop other motives.
Study on the Impact of Intellectual Property on the Pharmaceutical Industry of Uruguay
As many other developing countries, Uruguay did not grant patent protection for pharmaceutical products before subscribing to the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. After little less than a decade, there are still concerns on how this policy change has affected the market conditions for medicines in Uruguay. It is worth noting that the changes in the IP legal framework were not the only ones likely to affect this industry. Within the last decade, Uruguay has reshaped substantially its public health system, integrating medical care institutions, health maintenance organizations and public insurance. Despite all of these changes, there are only a small number of empirical studies on the Uruguayan pharmaceutical market and considerably fewer addressing specifically the link between the IP regime and pharmaceutical market structure.
Exploratory Study on the Egyptian Information Technology (IT) Sector and the Role of Intellectual Property: Economic assessment and recommendations
The Egyptian ICT sector is an important contributor to economic growth and employment. Having established itself as a leading supplier of ICT back office operation and services for multinational enterprises, the sector is now aiming to shift to the production and exports of higher value-added software and ICT services. Egypts latest ICT strategy (2013-2017) indeed emphasizes the need to foster ICT innovation, entrepreneurship and advanced ICT skills. Inevitably, this will come from two mutually reinforcing streams, further attracting FDI and furthering domestic ICT entrepreneurship and innovation.
Study on the Use of Utility Models in Thailand
There is great interest in better understanding the effects of intellectual property (IP) protection in less developed countries, both on specific measures of social and economic performance and on the economic development process more broadly. Many economists have argued against a one-size-fits-all approach in designing and implementing an IP regime. At the same time, national policymakers in developing countries lack credible empirical guidance in tailoring their IP systems to national capacities and needs.
2014 Patent Litigation Study
In some ways, 2013 appeared to be a moderating year in patent infringement litigation. The mega verdicts of prior years (2012 saw three cases that resulted in damages awards of over $1 billion) were missing, with the largest new award falling to just over $200 million. Four of the ten largest awards from previous years were settled, overturned, modified or remain under appeal in 2013. And the median damages award continued its gradual downward tapering, to $4.3 million in the most recent four-year period.
Protecting IP rights early pays off for VisitVineyards.com
Food and wine tourism has skyrocketed in Australia. VisitVineyards.com is Australia's leading online wine travel guide, showcasing the best of Australia's wine and food. The website provides free wine and food related information, a national events calendar, recommendations and reviews of cellar doors and wineries as well as information on other food and wine travel experiences across the country.
The CEO was aware of the need to protect the intellectual property of VisitVineyards.com early on to ensure others didn't copy their trend-setting ideas.
The unexpected pitfalls of registering a personal name as a trade mark
A recent decision of the Federal Court of Australia determined whether prominent Australian business man, Bob Jane, could continue to use his own name in the course of trade. The Federal Court decision is a reminder that there is no unqualified right to use your personal name in the course of trade and, should it be registered as a trade mark, continued use of the name without authorization from the marks owner will constitute an infringement under Australian law.
SME in the Spotlight: Vogmask
Vogmask is a popular anti-pollution mask product available in China, using an innovative microfiber filtration fabric. Christopher Dobbing founded Vogmask China in 2013. Read more on how Christopher protects his intellectual property and defends it against counterfeits and unlicensed products.
Forthcoming Events
PCT at the EPO, Conference for patent professionals and industry, October 1-2, 2014, Hague, Netherlands
The EPO's involvement with the PCT has always been a matter of top priority. As one of the major international authorities, the EPO produces approximately 40% of all international search reports and 50% of international preliminary examination reports. Against this backdrop, the EPO is once again organizing a conference on filing PCT applications with the EPO.
For more information, see http://www.epo.org/learning-events/events/conferences/PCT.html
Note:
The SMEs Section welcomes voluntary contributions of articles, case studies, news items, useful links and relevant information concerning forthcoming events of interest to entrepreneurs and SMEs for inclusion in future issues of this newsletter; contributions may be sent by email to sme@wipo.int.
If you have received this newsletter from someone and would like to subscribe yourself, then simply visit our website https://www.wipo.int/sme/en/.
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Past issues of this newsletter, since August 2001, may be accessed here.
Copyright (c) 2014 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), 34, chemin des Colombettes, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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