By Donald Zuhn --
Last week, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced the launch of WIPO Lex, a new online global IP resource providing up-to-date information on national IP laws and treaties. WIPO noted that the new site satisfied one of the Organization's strategic goals, namely to serve as a world reference source for IP information and analysis.
WIPO Lex launched on September 20th with the complete IP legal texts for over 60 countries and substantial coverage for 100 other legal systems. In some cases, the site will provide an online platform for obtaining IP legislation for countries that currently lack their own database. WIPO's collection of patent laws and treaties for the United States can be found here.
Though some have questioned the utility of the WIPO's portal -- because only 1 percent of people in least-developed nations have internet access -- I think this initiative is laudable. LDCs are often patent-free zones, and such zones have enormous potential to explore innovative possibilities unhindered by the restraints of patents that restrict more-developed countries. If they can just get access to the necessary resources, they could contribute quite significantly to technological and medical innovation globally.
http://www.aminn.org/webcast-aipr-patent-reform-presentation-us-patent-and-trademark-office
Posted by: patent litigation | October 04, 2010 at 03:39 PM