미국

• 미 무역대표부 스페셜 301조 보고서, 중국․러시아 지식

재산권 보호 개선 필요 지적

일본

• 일본특허청, 주요 기술부문 판례 공개

• 일본 한 바이오회사, ‘자동혈액냉동’기술 특허취득 가시화

중국

• 중국, 저작권 침해에 대한 고소 접수 가이드북 발간

• 중국, ‘2006 지재권 보호 시행 계획’ 정립

인도

• 인도, 전통지식 보호 위해 미국에 지재권보호 강화 요청

• 인도․파키스탄, 바스마티 쌀의 공동 보호 추진

EU

• EU, 지식재산침해사범에 최소 4년 구형 및 최대 3십만

유로의 벌금형 내릴 방침

WIPO

• IGC, 토착․지역공동체 지원펀드 운영 및 전통지식보호에 회원국의 참여 촉구

110

2006.5.8

• 호주 대법원, 화이자 리피토 특허 거절 확정

해외 각국의 지재권 동향

미 무역대표부 스페셜 301조 보고서, 중국․러시아 지식재산권 보호 개선 필요 지적

미  국

2006년 5월 1일, 미 무역대표부는 스페셜 301조(Special 301) 보고서를 발표하였다. 이번 보고서에서 광학디스크 불법복제가 심각하게 이뤄지며 인터넷에서 저작권 보호가 취약한 국가를 보고하였으며 특히, 중국과 러시아의 지재권 보호가 취약하다고 지적하였다.

미 무역대표부의 롭 포트만 대사는 미국이 지재권 보호와 집행에 역점을 두고 있다고 밝히며 교역국가에서 지재권 보호 수위를 높이기 위한 노력을 해왔으나 여전히 개선할 점이 많다고 지적하였다. 스페셜 301조 보고서는 지재권 보호가 취약한 국가를 상대로 통상 압력과 무역협상을 강하게 진행하기 위한 토대를 마련하는 자료가 되었다.

미 무역대표부는 중국에 대한 철저한 감시체제를 유지하며 WTO 분쟁해결 협상 옵션에 대해 고려하는 방안과 함께 최초로 중국의 지방을 대상으로 지재권 보호와 집행에 대한 조사를 감행할 계획이라고 밝혔다. 이번 보고서에서 미 무역대표부는 러시아의 광학디스크 불법복제 및 인터넷에서의 저작권 침해가 여전히 위험한 수위라고 밝혔다.

<2006년 스페셜 301조 분류 대상국>

분 류	대 상 국 가
우선 감시 대상국	아르헨티나, 벨리즈, 브라질, 중국, 이집트, 인도, 인도네시아, 이스라엘, 레바논, 러시아, 우크라이나, 터키, 베네주엘라 (총 13개국)
감시 대상국	바하마, 벨라루스, 볼리비아, 불가리아, 캐나다, 칠레, 콜롬비아, 코스타리카, 크로아티아, 도미니카공화국, 에콰도르, EU, 과테말라, 헝가리, 이탈리아, 자메이카, 쿠웨이트, 라트비아, 리투아니아, 말레이시아, 멕시코, 파키스탄, 페루, 필리핀, 폴란드, 대한민국, 루마니아, 사우디아라비아, 대만, 타지키스탄, 태국, 트루쿠메니스탄, 우즈베키스탄, 베트남 (총 34개국)

금번 스페셜 301조 보고서에는 여러 국가의 지재권 보호 성과를 보고하는 새로운 항목이 신설되었으며 파키스탄의 광학디스크 불법복제 공장 폐쇄에 대해 보고되었다. 또한 미 무역대표부는 추후 FTA 협상 진행 및 인터넷에서의 저작권 침해, 위조 의약품에 대한 대응방편 등을 소개할 예정이라고 밝혔다.

출처: ag-IP-news, 2006.5.1

일본특허청, 주요 기술부문 판례 공개

일  본

일본 한 바이오회사, ‘자동혈액냉동’기술 특허취득 가시화

일  본

일본특허청(Japan Patent Office)은 관례적으로 BM관련 발명 부문에 대한 주요 판례집을 발간해왔으며 이 정보를 심사, 항소, 심판절차에 유용한 참고자료로 활용하여 왔다.

최근 일본특허청은 생물학적 발명과 관련된 주요 판례를 기존의 판례집과 함께 발간하여 심사, 항소 및 심판 결과를 예측할 수 있는 주요 정보로 공개하였다.

세부 사항은 아래 웹사이트 참조.

Major judicial precedents of business method-related inventions<PDF 80KB>

Major judicial precedents of biological inventions<PDF 154KB>

출처: JPO, 2006.4.28

ThermoGenesis Corp.은 자사에서 개발한 자동혈액냉동장치에 대한 출원에서 BioArchive 시스템에 대한 16개 이상의 청구항이 일본특허청에서 승인되었다고 5월 1일 밝혔다.

필립 코엘로 ThermoGenesis Corp. CEO는 전 세계에서 10개 특허로 자사의 지식재산을 보호해오고 있다고 언급하였다. 반면, Rancho Cordova회사는 자동혈액냉동기술에 대한 특허가 승인되면 유사 부문에서의 기술개발이 제한될 것이라는 우려를 드러내었다.

BioArchive 시스템은 극저온상태에서 탯줄(제대혈)에서 유래된 혈액줄기세포(umbilical cord blood stem cells)를 냉각하고 보관하는 자동 시스템으로 로봇장치를 이용하여 혈액줄기세포를 영하 196도의 액체질소상태로 보존하는 시스템으로 25개국 70개 혈액은행에서 사용되고 있다.

출처: Yahoo News, 2006.5.4

중국은 지식재산권의 보호 강화측면으로 저작권 침해에 대한 고소 접수 및 절차 등을 소개한 가이드북을 4월 28일 발간하였다고 신화통신을 통해 보도하였다.

중국저작권국(China's National Copyright Administration)의 후 차오 부국장은 이 가이드북이 저작권 보호를 강화하기 위한 목적으로 발간되었다고 하며 저작권국에서 저작권 침해 고소장을 접수하면 다양한 법적 조치를 취할 수 있다고 설명하였다.

가이드북에 따르면 고소인은 자신의 저작권이 침해를 입었을 경우 침해행위가 일어난 날로부터 2년이내에 저작권국에 고소장을 접수하여야 하며 중국 저작권법에 따라 저작권 및 저작인접권에 대한 권리를 행사할 수 있다.

외국인이 저작권 침해에 대해 고소장을 접수한 경우, 해당 고소인의 국가가 중국과 동일한 저작권 조약의 체약국이거나 또는 고소인의 국가가 중국과 동일한 저작권 조약 체약국이 아닌 경우이더라도 고소인의 저작물이 동조약이 실시되는 국가에서 출판된 경우 중국에서도 저작권 보호를 받을 수 있다.

출처: www.chinaview.cn, 2006.4.29

중국정부는 5월 1일 국가 지재권 보호 실무단에서 ‘2006 지재권 보호 시행 계획’을 관련 부처와 함께 정립하였다고 밝혔다. 본 2006 지재권 보호 시행 계획에는 지재권 보호 강화를 위한 다양한 형태의 침해 유형 및 불법 지재권 침해 행위에 대한 처벌 및 대응 방편이 제시되었다.

본 시행 계획은 포괄적이며 과학적이고 실현 가능한 지재권 보호 방향을 제시하고 있으며 상표, 저작권, 특허, 수출입의 주요 부문에서의 11개 관련 부처에서 시행할 계획을 제시하고 있다.

본 계획에 아울러 중국정부는 2006년에 상표, 저작권, 특허 및 세관 관련 17개 법률, 규정, 규칙을 신설 및 개정하고 6개 사법해석 조항을 개정할 계획이라고 밝혔다.

또한 지재권 보호 집행의 일환으로 7개 캠페인을 시행할 계획이며 지재권 위반 신고 접수 및 법집행 통계 공고를 담당하는 서비스 센터 설립을 포함한 12개 기관 설립 계획, 그리고 19개 세부 지재권 침해 대응 수단을 계획하였다. 이밖에 대국민 대상 지재권 보호 홍보계획 및 교육프로그램이 시행될 예정이다.

세부사항은 웹사이트 참조

:http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/811/2006/04/30/167@83587.htm

출처: ag-IP-news, 2006.5.1

중국, 저작권 침해에 대한 고소 접수 가이드북 발간

중  국

중국, ‘2006 지재권 보호 시행 계획’ 정립

중  국

인도․파키스탄, 바스마티 쌀의 공동 보호 추진

인  도

인도, 전통지식 보호 위해 미국에 지재권보호 강화 요청

인  도

지난 5월 2일, 인도정부는 자국의 전통지식을 독점하려는 시도에 대한 우려를 표명하며, 미국에 지재권 보호체제의 강화 및 특허를 출원하려는 회사들을 위한 적절한 공개 규정(disclosure norms)을 정비할 것을 요청하였다.

인도 산업정책진흥부 아제이 두아 장관은 플랭클린 라빈 미 상무차관과의 오찬회의에서 미국에 지재권보호 강화 및 적절한 공개규정을 정비할 것을 요청하였고, 미국기업들이 출처표시를 충분히 하지 않음으로 인해 인도의 전통지식 체계가 위협을 받고 있다고 언급하였다.

미국은 인도의 금융시장을 좀 더 개방해줄 것을 요청하였으나, 이에 대해 두아 장관은 “인도에는 미국 은행이 많이 있다. 문제는 미국에서 영업을 하려고 하는 인도 은행들에 대해 승인을 해주지 않는 미국 당국에 있다”라고 맞서 대응하였다.

그리고 인도정부는 물질특허의 심사기간을 6개월 이내로 단축하기로 결정하였다고 두아 장관은 언급하였다. 법령 개정 이전에는 특허등록까지 걸리는 시간은 3년 이내였다. 새로운 법령은 곧 공표될 것이라고 덧붙였다.

출처: Yahoo News, 2006.5.3

인도와 파키스탄은 공동으로 바스마티 쌀의 상표 등록을 추진할 예정이다. 양국은 이미 전세계적으로 바스마티 쌀의 상표 출원을 하기로 합의한 바 있다.

인도와 파키스탄은 바스마티를 지리적 표시로 등록하기 위해 양국간 협의를 위한 공동연구그룹을 결성했고, 3월에는 양국 상무장관이 세부 사항을 논의하기도 했다.

바스마티의 지리적 표시 보호 추진은 양국 정부뿐만 아니라 인도쌀수출연합(All India Rice Exporters Association) 및 파키스탄쌀수출연합(Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan) 등에 의해 협의중에 있으며 양국 쌀수출연합에서 곧 회의를 열 예정이라고 밝혔다.

출처: Economic Times Online, 2006.5.3

EU, 지식재산침해사범에 최소 4년 구형 및 최대 3십만 유로의 벌금형 내릴 방침

E  U

유럽위윈회(EC)는 지난 4월 26일 지식재산침해에 대한 처벌 지침안을 채택하였다고 밝혔다. 이번 지침안은 2005년 7월 위원회에서 채택한 법안의 개정안으로, 2005년 9월 유럽공동체 법안을 효율적으로 실행하기 위해 필요한 형사적 처벌 법안의 필요성에 따른 법원의 판결에 따라 지식재산침해에 대한 형사적 처벌을 강화하기 위한 목적으로 채택되었다.

근래의 지식재산 침해범죄가 타 범죄에 비해 막대한 불법 수익을 올리고 있으며 수사망을 피해가는 지능적 범죄화로 되어가고 있으며 관련 범죄가 혁신에 위험을 가하고 있다. 더욱이 다수의 범죄가 공공의 보건과 안위에 해를 가하는 경우가 많은 처지다.

이에, 금번 채택된 지재권침해에 대한 처벌방침은 보다 효과적으로 지재권 침해범죄를 소통하고 유럽 국가내 국가간 협력을 강하시킬 수 있도록 고안되었다. 지침안에 따르면 지재권 침해범죄에 대해 시도, 협조 및 범죄 교사에 대해서도 형사적 처벌이 가해질 것이다. 또한 범죄조직에 연루되거나 개인의 보건과 안위에 심각한 해를 미친 지재권침해 범죄에 대해 최소 4년 구형 및 십만 유로에서 삼십만 유로의 벌금이 부과될 것이다.

유럽에서 가장 빈번히 발생되는 지재권침해 범죄의 유형에 대한 최근 통계는 아래 웹 사이트 참조.

http://europa.eu.int/comm/taxation_customs/customs/customs_controls/counterfeit_piracy/statistics/index_en.htm

출처: ag-IP-news, 2006.4.27

지역공동체의 전통지식보호 참여 활성화를 논의하기 위한 회의가 지난 4월 24일부터 28일까지 제네바에서 열렸다.

지식재산 및 유전자원, 전통지식 및 민간전승물에 관한 WIPO 정부간 위원회(IGC) 회의는 2005년 가을, 토착․지역공동체들의 전통지식보호를 지원하기 위한 자율기금을 마련하고 9명의 위원으로 구성된 자금운영위원회를 결성하였다. 스웨덴 국제생물다양성 프로그램(SwedBio)과 프랑스정부에서 각각 5십만 스웨덴 크로나와 2만 유로를 기탁하여 토착․지역공동체들의 전통지식보호를 지원하는데 앞장섰다.

카밀 이드리스 WIPO 사무총장은 지역공동체의 전통지식보호 참여 활성화 기부금이 마련되어 지역 및 토착공동체의 전통지식보호 노력을 활성화할 수 있는 중요한 기틀이 생성되었다고 밝히며 전통지식 및 전통문화표현(TCEs)의 남용을 막을 수 있는 국제표준 제정에 지역 및 토착공동체들이 적극 참여할 수 있도록 지원할 수 있게 되어 기쁘다고 언급하였다.

WIPO는 전통지식 및 전통문화표현(TCEs)의 보호와 관련된 프로그램을 1998년부터 시행해오고 있으며 전 세계 60여개의 토착․지역공동체들이 해당 프로그램에 참여하고 있다. IGC에서 인정한 130여명의 옵저버들이 또한 본 프로그램에 참여하고 있다.

현재 전통지식 및 전통문화표현(TCEs)의 적절한 보호를 위한 정책 및 규정의 제정이 중점적으로 논의되고 있으며 이에 대한 중요성의 인식이 점차 확산되고 있으나 아직까지는 제도적으로 정착된 단계는 아니다. IGC는 향후 전통지식에 대한 인식 확산을 위해 정보시스템 및 지침서와 같은 실질적 매체를 활용하여 특허심사과정에 고려될 수 있도록 할 방침을 고려중이다.

출처: ag-IP-news, 2006.4.27

IGC, 토착․지역공동체 지원펀드 운영 및 전통지식보호에 회원국의 참여 촉구

WIPO

해외 각국의 분쟁 ․ 판례

호주 대법원, 화이자 리피토 특허 거절 확정

지난 4월 25일 호주대법원과 상표심의위원은 화이자(pfizer)의 고지혈증 치료제 리피토(Lipitor)의 특허청구항 가운데 주요성분인 아토르바스틴 칼슘관련 청구항 무효를 판결한 호주특허청의 결정을 지지하는 판결을 내렸으며, 이로 인해 화이자의 호주특허 등록은 실패로 돌아갔다.

화이자는 리피토 특허의 무효 판결에 대해 금번 판결이 단지 호주에 국한되는 것이며, 경쟁기업인 랜박시와 타 국가에서 진행되는 관련 소송과는 관련이 없다고 성명서를 통해 밝혔다.

화이자는 호주에서 리피토 외에 이와 관련한 수건의 특허를 보유하고 있으며 2011년까지 기본 특허권(basic patent)에 대해 권리를 확보하였다.

화이자는 랜박시와 아토르바스틴 칼슘 관련 특허 청구항으로 여러 국가에서 소송이 진행중이며, 2005년 미국, 영국, 노르웨이, 루마니아, 페루에서는 승소하였다.

출처: Managing IP, 2006.4.27

AGIPNEWS2996

1/5/2006 10:38 GMT

ag-IP-news

Report Notes Continued Progress on IPRs, Significant Improvements Still Needed in China and Russia

WASHINGTON - The Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its "Special 301" annual report on the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection provided by trading partners around the world, a press release by the USTR’s Office stated.

The report identifies governments who need to take stronger actions to combat piracy and counterfeiting, for example, by cracking down on illegal optical disc production and Internet piracy, or stepping up border enforcement against trade in fake goods. Concerns regarding China and Russia feature prominently throughout the report.

"As one of the world’s leading innovators, the United States places significant emphasis on intellectual property protection and enforcement," said US Trade Representative Rob Portman.

"Safeguarding our creations and innovations is a key element of our trade competitiveness, but it is also in the interest of our trading partners to strengthen their IPR regimes." "This report acknowledges the positive steps that several of our trading partners have taken to strengthen IPR protection over the past year," continued Portman.

"However, more needs to be done. Our review reveals a continuing need for improvements, particularly with the implementation of effective protection and enforcement against piracy and counterfeiting."

China is a top IPRs enforcement priority. USTR will maintain heightened scrutiny of China, step up consideration of its WTO dispute settlement options, and for the first time scrutinize IPR protection and enforcement at China’s provincial level by conducting a special provincial review in the coming year. The China section of the report recognizes China’s efforts to address IPR problems but concludes that IPR infringements throughout China remain at unacceptable levels.

"The Administration continues to use our trade tools in strong and innovative ways to press China for better progress on IPR problems," continued Portman.

Although the United States recognizes the efforts of top officials in China, IPRs enforcement in China continues to lag far behind the commitment made in the April 2004 Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT), renewed in 2005 and 2006, to achieve a significant reduction in IPRs infringement throughout China.

Russia also continues to be a serious concern. The Russia section of the report notes that although Russia has taken some steps to curb pirated production of optical discs in factories, particularly those located on government-owned property, high levels of IPRs infringement remain, particularly infringements connected with Russia-based optical disc plants and websites.

This year’s Special 301 Report includes a new section that highlights progress in some countries. In addition, the Report sets out priorities for the coming year, such as implementation of free trade agreements , combating Internet piracy and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. The report also includes a new section that highlights notorious markets, including both on-line websites, such as allofmp3.com, and traditional marketplaces.

This year's Special 301 Report places 48 countries on the Priority Watch List (PWL), Watch List (WL) or the Section 306 monitoring list.

Countries on the Priority Watch List do not provide an adequate level of IPRs protection or enforcement, or market access for persons relying on intellectual property protection. In addition to China and Russia, eleven countries are placed on the PWL in this year's report are: Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Ukraine, and Venezuela.

Thirty-four trading partners are placed on the lower level Watch List, meriting bilateral attention to address the underlying IPR problems. The Watch List countries are the Bahamas, Belarus, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, European Union, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

The Special 301 Report adds a new section that notes the improvements and progress that several countries have made in addressing IPR-related concerns identified in previous Special 301 Reports. For example, Pakistan made notable progress by shutting down pirate optical disc factories.

Ukraine implemented new legislation to combat pirate optical production in plants, and Brazil took steps to improve IPR enforcement. In addition, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan have made progress with IPR protection and enforcement against retail piracy, Internet piracy, and optical disc pirate production.

However, numerous IPR problems persist, including ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights, commercial-scale piracy of CDs, DVDs and CD-ROMs, and counterfeiting of consumer goods. Trade in infringing goods is significantly harming both large and small American companies, and fake drugs put public health and safety at risk.

Paraguay will continue to be subject to Section 306 monitoring because of previous bilateral agreements reached with the United States, and specific problems raised in earlier reports will be addressed.

Due to progress on intellectual property, the status of several countries has been improved since last year’s Special 301 report. In January, the Ukraine was moved from the Priority Foreign Country list to the Priority Watch List. In February, the Philippines was moved from the Priority Watch List to the Watch List. Today, USTR is announcing that Kuwait and Pakistan are also being moved from the Priority Watch List to the Watch List.

Four countries were removed from the Watch List entirely because of improvement in intellectual property protection: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Slovak Republic and Uruguay.

This year’s Special 301 Report also announced five out-of-cycle reviews involving Canada, Chile, Indonesia, Latvia, and Saudi Arabia. Out-of-cycle reviews are conducted on countries that warrant further review before the next Special 301 Report and could result in changes in their status before next April’s report.

Publication of Major Judicial Precedents by Technical Field

Appeals Department, Japan Patent Office (JPO)

The JPO has conventionally collected and publicized the major judicial precedents in the field of “business method-related inventions,” and this dissemination of information has enhanced an organization’s ability to forecast the results of examinations, appeals and trials. Since we have recently compiled the major judicial precedents regarding “biological inventions,” we will publicize these precedents together.

We have collected those judicial precedents which we consider to be useful in forecasting the results of examinations, appeals, and trials concerning patent applications, requests for examination.

Please refer to these judicial precedents when you respond to a notification of reasons for refusal, request for examination or appeal.

Major judicial precedents of business method-related inventions<PDF 80KB>

Major judicial precedents of biological inventions<PDF 154KB>

bizjournals.com

ThermoGenesis wins new Japan patent claims

Wednesday May 3, 6:08 pm ET

The Japanese Patent Office has allowed 16 more claims for the automated blood freezer made by ThermoGenesis Corp., a development that the Rancho Cordova company says will limit new competition from similar products there.

The 16 new patent claims for the BioArchive System were announced Monday. Philip Coelho, chairman and CEO, said the company has established a "formidable" intellectual property defense with 10 patents issued around the world.

The BioArchive is an automated system to cryogenically freeze and store cord blood stem cells, derived from the umbilical cords of infants, which have medical promise for transplants. The system uses robotic storage and retrieval to maintain the cells at a liquid-nitrogen-cooled 196 degrees-below-zero Celsius.

The system is in use in 70 cord-blood banks in 25 countries. It is distributed worldwide by GE Healthcare, though the arrangement is not exclusive.

Shares of ThermoGenesis (Nasdaq: KOOL - News) closed off 2 cents Tuesday in light trading, at $3.98.

Published May 3, 2006 by the Sacramento Business Jour

China issues guide on complaints against copyright administration

www.chinaview.cn 2006-04-29 09:03:56

BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) -- China issued a guide on complaints against copyright administration and infringement cases on Friday in a move to better protect intellectual property right.

"The purpose of this guide is to strengthen copyright protection, " said Xu Chao, deputy director-general of China's National Copyright Administration. "This is part of China's campaign to protect intellectual property right."

When a copyright owner discovers infringement, he/she may file a complaint with the copyright administrative department where the infringement is committed or where the consequence of the infringement arises, the guide says.

The copyright administrative department accepting the complaint can take a variety of legal actions. It can order a cease of the infringement, confiscate unlawful gains and the materials and equipment used to produce illegal copies, and impose fines.

A complainant can be anyone who enjoys copyright or a right related to copyright in accordance with the Copyright Law of the People's Republic of China, or a user who enjoys an exclusive right of exploitation according to law, or an interested party.

Xu said there are two circumstances under which complaints will be received from foreigners. If a foreigner's country has signed the same international copyright treaties as China has, or if a foreigner from a non-treaty country has his works published in a country that signed the treaty, his copyright will be protected in China.

China will not protect a foreigner's copyright beyond the above-mentioned conditions, he said.

A complaint should be filed to the copyright administrative department within two years from the date when the infringement is committed, according to the guide. Enditem

1/5/2006 09:57 GMT

ag-IP-news

China's Action Plan on IPRs Protection 2006 Formulated

BEIJING - The Chinese Government announced on Monday that the National IPRs Protection Working Group Office has formulated "China's Action Plan on IPRs Protection 2006" in conjunction with other relevant departments, to better protect the IPRs, resolutely punish and combat various infringement and other illegal activities.

Focusing on major issues in relation with China's IPRs protection efforts, the Action Plan clearly defines the China's tasks in IPRs protection in 2006. It is a comprehensive, scientific and highly workable action plan with priorities, and therefore plays an important role in guiding China's IPRs protection endeavor, a press release by the Chinese Government stated.

The Action Plan covers four major areas: trademark, copyright, patent and import and export, which involve the IPRs protection plans and arrangements of eleven departments, including the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Information Industry, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Culture, Customs General Administration, State Administration of Industry and Commerce, Administration of Quality Inspection, Supervision and Quarantine, Copyright Bureau, State Food and Drug Administration, State Intellectual Property Office, and Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council.

The Action Plan covers nine areas: legislation, law enforcement, mechanism building, propaganda, training and education, international communication and cooperation, promoting business self discipline, services to right holders, and subject research. In line with the Action Plan, in 2006 China will draft, formulate and revise 17 laws, regulations, rules and measures relating to trademark, copyright, patent and customs protection, and draft, improve and revise six judicial interpretations.

The IPRs law enforcement efforts will include seven dedicated campaigns such as the "Mountain Eagle", "Sunshine" and "Blue Sky", eight regular enforcement initiatives and 20 specific measures. The government is going to establish a long standing mechanism constituting 12 parts, including a service center for reporting and complaining IPRs violations and publicizing law enforcement statistics, and 19 specific measures. Seven approaches and 39 measures will be adopted to raise the general public's awareness of IPRS protection. Twenty one IPRs training programs will be organized under the Project of Training Thousands of IPRs Personnel.

The focus of IPRs related international exchanges and cooperation will be on legislation, trademark, copyright, patent and customs protection, which will be facilitated through 19 exchange and cooperation activities, out of which seven will be between China and the US. With a view to improving enterprises' consciousness and awareness of IPRs protection, three initiatives will be launched, including the convening of a conference on enterprises' IPRs protection and proprietary innovation.

Twelve specific measures covering nine areas will be put in place to better serve the right holders. Besides, countermeasure oriented research will be conducted in five fields to strengthen IPRs protection.

The US needs to take a re-look in its own Intellectual Property Rights rules and put in place proper disclosure norms : India

Media Release

May 3, 2006

Concerned over attempts to monopolise its traditional knowledge, India on Tuesday asked the United States to tighten its Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) regime and put in place proper disclosure norms for companies filing for patents.

"The US needs to take a re-look in its IPR rules and put in place proper disclosure norms," Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Secretary Ajay Dua said here at a luncheon meeting with US Under Secretary for International Trade Franklin L Lavin.

Dua said India's traditional system of knowledge is under threat because US companies do not sufficiently disclose their sources.

"Companies which are not even concerned with certain areas get patents," he said, adding "India is concerned because we have also become generator of patents".

Talking about US's request to further open up India's financial sector, Dua said it was infact the US which was not allowing entry to Indian banks.

"There are a number of US banks in India," he said.

State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda have been trying to open offices in the US but necessary approvals are yet to be given by the authorities there.

Dua also said that the Government has decided to bring down the minimum time limit to issue product patents to six months. Existing rules allow the Government up to three years to take a decision on patent applications.

"The new rules will be notified within a day or two," Dua said.

India, Pakistan want common IPR for basmati

AGENCIES[ WEDNESDAY, MAY 03, 2006 01:23:52 AM]

ISLAMABAD: India and Pakistan are likely to get a common trademark for basmati rice as they agreed to jointly file a case to claim Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) over it world-wide.

New Delhi has formed a ‘Joint Study Group’ for consultations with Islamabad on the joint registration of basmati as a geographical indication, following detailed discussions between the commerce secretaries of both countries here in March.

The issue had been under active consideration by the All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) and the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) as well as by the two governments. AIREA had recently written to REAP seeking a joint meeting of Pakistani and Indian rice exporters.

Brigadier Anil Adlakha, executive director of AIREA, proposed that trade between both countries should be increased in this direction. He also called for an early meeting at Amritsar or Lahore.

According to him, the delegations could comprise of three-four representatives each from REAP and AIREA, a representative each from the two governments, legal advisors handling the case and any others deemed fit to be included.

Prison and increased fines proposed for EU

Intellectual property infringers could face four years in prison and fines of up to €300,000 under European Commission proposals aimed at aligning EU countries' criminal laws

Intellectual property infringers could face four years in prison and fines of up to €300,000 under European Commission proposals aimed at aligning EU countries' criminal laws.

The Commission hopes the new measures, which it proposed on April 26, will improve European cooperation in the fight against piracy and counterfeiting.

In 2004 EU Customs seizures at the EU's external borders increased by almost 1000% compared to 1998, with Customs today seizing more than 100 million fake products a year. An increasing number of fakes include household, rather than luxury, items such as toothpaste, coffee and even roses, raising health and safety concerns. In 2004 counterfeit foodstuffs, drinks and alcohol seizures increased by 200% compared with 2003.

Under the proposed measures the minimum sentence for infringers operating as part of a criminal organization or producing products posing health and safety risks to consumers will be four years in prison. Minimum fines will be between €100,000 and €300,000, though the Commission leaves it up to member states to impose heavier penalties.

The proposal foresees changing EU countries' criminal laws subjecting all intentional IP infringements of a commercial scale to the new criminal offence rules.

The proposal follows the EU's Enforcement Directive, which member states will have to implement into their national laws by April 29. The Enforcement Directive deals with civil enforcement, rewriting countries' civil procedural codes to provide uniform IP enforcement across the EU. In its original proposal, the Commission included criminal sanctions in the Enforcement Directive which, despite protests by the Commission, were later taken out following months of protests by some member states and civil rights groups.

Last week's proposals for a separate criminal sanctions law were drafted by Commission Vice-President Franco Frattini, who is responsible for justice, freedom and security matters. To become law they will now have to pass through to adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

AGIPNEWS2989

27/4/2006 11:37 GMT

ag-IP-news

WIPO Director General Welcomes Launch of New Funding Mechanism

GENEVA - The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, has welcomed steps by the WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Folklore (IGC) meeting in Geneva from April 24 to 28, 2006, to enhance and facilitate the participation of indigenous peoples in its work, a press release by WIPO stated.

The IGC appointed a nine-person advisory board responsible for the administration of the Voluntary Fund for Indigenous and Local Communities established by WIPO member states in autumn 2005 to support participation of indigenous and local communities in the IGC and to enhance the work of that Committee. The Swedish International Biodiversity Program (SwedBio) and the Government of France announced contributions of 500,000 Swedish Krona and 20,000 Euros respectively.

"This is a very welcome and positive step to further enhance the participation of representatives of indigenous and local communities in the important work of the IGC" said Dr. Idris. "This mechanism meets a long-standing need to provide practical support for representatives of these communities to participate actively in the process of establishing international standards to prevent the misappropriation of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions," he added. Dr. Idris said, "The voice and experience of indigenous and local communities have been a vital contribution to the IGC’s work and an inclusive approach has been a priority for WIPO."

Dr. Idris thanked SwedBio and the Government of France for their generous contributions and encouraged other donors to support the Fund.

This latest development builds on a series of initiatives to improve participation of the holders and custodians of traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs) in the work of WIPO. WIPO’s current program in this area was launched in 1998 with a series of consultations with indigenous and local communities in over 60 locations around the world, culminating in a comprehensive report on the needs and expectations of TK holders that still guides WIPO’s work.

The IGC has specially accredited over 130 observers to participate in its work, the majority representing indigenous and local communities and other TK holders. Each IGC session begins with a panel session, chaired by an indigenous or local community representative, when representatives from diverse communities explain to the Committee their experiences and concerns regarding TCEs, TK and related genetic resources.

The IGC’s work has shown that appropriate protection of TK and TCEs, in accordance with the wishes and interests of their traditional custodians, is a central area for IP law, both in current practice and in policy-making and norm-building. There is broad agreement on the need for appropriate protection of TK and TCEs, including empowerment of traditional holders to make effective use of legal tools, but as yet there is no agreed common position on the formal legal status of the outcome of the IGC process.

This week’s IGC will continue to build on the extensive work it has already achieved in better defining the link between intellectual property and the issues covered by the Committee. While earlier work focused on conceptual aspects, many member states now stress the need to formulate concrete measures and identify appropriate mechanisms to establish an international legal framework for the protection of intellectual property aspects of TCEs (or expressions of folklore), TK and associated genetic resources.

The approach to protection that is being explored would apply for TK and TCEs which are the products of intellectual activity, whether communal or individual, and which are characteristic of a community’s cultural and social identity and cultural heritage. The approach would in particular benefit those communities in whom the custody of the TK or TCEs has been entrusted under customary law and who still maintain, use or develop them.

The IGC will also consider further steps to improve the recognition of traditional knowledge in the patent examination process, including practical measures such as improved information systems and guidelines for patent offices.

Pfizer loses Austrian Lipitor patent

Pfizer has failed in its attempt to hold on to a patent for the blockbuster cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor in Austria, following an appeal court's ruling last week.

On April 25, the five-judge panel of Austria's supreme patent and trade mark senate upheld the Austrian Patent Office's 2005 ruling which invalidated claims 1 to 3 of Pfizer's Austrian patent for enantiomer. The patent covers atorvastatin calcium, the active ingredient in Lipitor, or Sortis as it is known in Austria.

The patent had been challenged by Indian generics company Ranbaxy before the Patent Office. Ranbaxy welcomed last week's ruling to uphold the Office's decision to cancel the patent, which had remained valid during the appeals process.

"Our success further validates our strategy to successfully commercialize atorvastatin in Austria, and potentially other healthcare markets in the future," said Malvinder Singh, Ranbaxy's CEO and managing director.

But in a statement Pfizer said that the ruling on the Lipitor patent only applies to Austria and is not relevant to patent litigation between Ranbaxy and Pfizer in other jurisdictions. Pfizer holds other patents for Lipitor in Austria, not affected by the ruling, including its basic patent which will not expire until 2011.

Ranbaxy is challenging Lipitor patents in a number of countries. In 2005 Pfizer was successful in defending its Lipitor patent in cases against Ranbaxy in the US, the UK, Norway, Romania and Peru. Ranbaxy is appealing some of these decisions.

Lipitor is the world's most commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drug, making up 2.3% of global drugs sales and bringing in almost $11 billion in sales for Pfizer in 2004, making it the pharmaceutical industry's first $10 billion product.