IPTango

Tuesday, 15 July 2008

Los mexicanos prefieren patentar en EEUU

Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella Martinez July 15, 2008 No comments:

Otra interesante noticia de la mano de Gilberto Macias.

Analizando los datos facilitados tanto por el Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI) y del Departamento de Patentes de los EE.UU., se observa que durante el bienio 2004 – 2006 el número de patentes solicitadas por mexicanos creció un 8.5% en los EE.UU. y sólo un 1.6% en México.

Los especialistas en la materia señalan como principal motivo de este crecimiento dispar, el desconocimiento y/o desconfianza que los mexicanos tienen sobre el sistema de protección de la propiedad industrial nacional, pues muchos de los investigadores e inventores nacionales tienen temor de revelar sus secretos ante el IMPI.

Desafortunadamente para México, el crecimiento mostrado por estos números evidencia que algo está fallando en su sistema de protección de la propiedad industrial e intelectual, el cual debe ser fortalecido para que las personas, sobre todos los nacionales, recurran a él para proteger sus creaciones.

Quizá proveyendo mayor información sobre sus ventajas u otorgando incentivos para que registren en México se lograrían mejores resultados.

Revocada la patente de un frijol latinoamericano en la USPTO

Aurelio Lopez-Tarruella Martinez July 11, 2008 No comments:

Gilberto Maciás (Clarke y Modet) informa que la Oficina de Patentes y Marcas de los Estados Unidos de América (USPTO) ha emitido una interesante decisión que repercute directamente en los intereses y derechos de los países en vías de desarrollo, especialmente en los de Latinoamérica.
Se trata del típico, pues no es el primero, e injusto (no porque haya otros es válido) caso en el que un individuo intenta apropiarse en exclusiva de un material existente desde hace tiempo en los países en desarrollo.
Si bien la USPTO concedió la patente para el frijol “enola” (frijol amarillo), gracias a la oportuna intervención del Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), la patente se revocó el pasado mes de abril.
Este tipo de decisiones deberían frenar el aprovechamiento injusto que los individuos o instituciones del primer mundo obtienen en detrimento de los países en vías de desarrollo, los cuales, tienen que fomentar y potenciar la protección y respeto de sus derechos y culturas mediante los mecanismos de Propiedad Industrial y/o Intelectual correspondientes.

PIIPA seeks volunteer: can you help?

Jeremy July 11, 2008 No comments:

Public Interest Intellectual Property Advisors, Inc. (PIIPA) is seeking assistance from a suitably-qualified volunteer to assist a Colombian Indian Shaman-healer from the Putumayo region of the Amazon in Colombia. According to PIIPA,

"In the 1970s-1980s, a U.S. university anthropologist recorded the sacred healing music of the assistance seeker. Assistance seeker's sacred music is currently being sold without his permission as CD recordings via the internet. The assistance seeker speaks Spanish, and, perhaps, English. The assistance seeker is affiliated with a nonprofit organization, and the subject matter advances the public interest in traditional knowledge and culture".

Further details are available from the PIIPA website here

Street vendor is Argentina's first DVD convict

Jeremy July 09, 2008 No comments:

Two local papers -- Clarin and InfoBAE -- have carried reports that an unnamed seller of pirated DVDs, who was arrested in Argentina in May 2005 while selling 239 pirate discs in the street, has at last been sentenced the man to spend ten months in prison. The custodial sentence is explained by reference to him having earlier convictions (though not, it appears, for IP-related offences) [source: Fernando Cassia, The Inquirer]

New Mexican medicaments approvals regime: an early report

Jeremy July 07, 2008 No comments:

New Health Supplies Regulations came into force in Mexico on 1 February 2008, changing the previous practice for obtaining safety approvals for medicaments and addressing difficulties under the previous practice in enforcing the data protection provisions of TRIPs and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The new Regulations delete from Mexican law the concept of the 'interchangeable generic medicament', which rise to the market for 'grey generics' -- generic versions of medicaments that were registered on the basis of questionable data rather than on the basis of propert bioequivalence tests. On 1 February the classification 'interchangeable generic' was replaced by three new classifications: 'generic medicament', 'reference medicament' and 'new molecule'.

Further details of the new Regulations may be read in "Revised Health Supplies Regulations Promise Changes for Generics", by Héctor Elias Chagoya Cortes of law firm Becerril, Coca & Becerril, writing for International Law Office.

LipoLaser comes to Latin America

Jeremy July 06, 2008 No comments:

Fox Business has reported that Meridian Co Ltd, a Canadian company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of advanced medical devices, has signed an exclusive distribution contract with International Medical Systems to sell its Lapex 2000 LipoLaser in Latin America. Initially the deal will cover Brazil, Venezuela, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. In the second year the territory coverd by the ageement will also sove Central America, the Caribbean, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, with projected sales of over US$ 3 million, rising to $4 million in the third year. Juan C. Torres, president and co-founder of International Medical Systems,, says:

"We believe that our projections are relatively conservative as the Latin American market is ready for a completely non-invasive approach to spot fat reduction. This innovative technology combined with the current demand for less painful body contouring, presents a unique opportunity with clear advantages in the market."

Venezuela’s Patent Law

Jeremy July 04, 2008 No comments:

This item is submitted by Richard N. Brown (De Sola Pate Brown), as a guest blogger. Richard writes:

"My 1963 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica says the following about Tropical Medicine: “Diseases of tropical climates reach their highest incidence and present the greatest problem where high temperatures and heavy rainfall prevail at all seasons. Such conditions favour the multiplication and longevity of man’s enemies and competitors – rodents, insect species that transmit disease, parasitic worms with free-living stages in the soil, and infective organisms that pass part of their lives outside the body of the host. The tropics also are characterized by the prevalence of diseases spread by filth and overcrowding, unsanitary habits and lack of sanitation marks of a low socioeconomic status. In this they reveal the characteristics of the so-called underdeveloped regions: low standard of living, illiteracy, high incidence of disease and short life expectancy, an unending cycle of proverty, ignorance and disease. In fact, the economist’s “underdeveloped areas” virtually coincide geographically with the tropics, suggesting a causal relationship between tropical environment and slow economic progress”.

I do not have the current Britannica but no doubt it is more politic in its choice of words. My 1963 set of the Britannica is bound in green Morocco with gilt edges and is very handsome but is silent about Tropical Law.

A possible definition of Tropical Law “is the branch of law that deals with clear legal provisions which are rarely, never, or sporadically employed, and other unusual legal problems that occur most often- but not uniquely in tropical regions”.
Venezuela’s patent law appears to meet this definition of Tropical Law. Moises Naim a former Minister of the Venezuelan Government once quipped – after he left office - that in Venezuela it was necessary to put quotation marks on titles like “Minister of Justice”, “Minister of Communications” and “Minister of Defense”. The point for those who do not live in the tropics is that they should not assume that the patent or trade mark they file will provide the same protection as in their home country, or that they will not face peculiar problems in the prosecution or grant phases. Another problem is enforcement or the lack of effective enforcement in the Tropics.

Venezuelan Courts are extremely formalistic and do not examine the facts with much interest or attention The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit examined the procedures applied in Venezuelan Civil Courts, while considering whether to retain jurisdiction over an admiralty suit involving the collision of two U.S tankers in Venezuelan waters and concluded:

… the more important question is whether the relinquishment of jurisdiction would best serve the ends of justice… However, the relinquishment of jurisdiction could result in serious detriment to Mobil’s and Socony´s courses of action. It would relegate the libellants to a foreign forum in which the procedural remedies are far less conducive to the fair administration of justice than those available under our admiralty rules. The mode of trial, the lack of trial, the lack of adequate pre-trial procedures, and limitation on the manner in which expert testimony may be offered do not comport with our concepts of fairness”.

We cite the case to illustrate differences between US and Venezuelan court procedures, and to make the point that the legal remedies vary greatly from country to country.

Venezuela’s first’s patent law “Ley sobre Patentes de Invención, mejoras e introducción de nuevos ramas de la Industria”, was enacted by Venezuela’s Congress on April 19, 1842.

Despite the fact Venezuela has had a patent law on the books for over 165 years, the author is not aware of any Venezuelan court decision that has ruled a Venezuelan patent is valid and enforceable. Thus Venezuela appears to be a country with a patent law but zero enforcement. Unenforced laws are one symptom of Tropical Law. One reason for the lack of enforcement is relatively few Venezuelan persons file patents and as there is no enforcement few if any Venezuelans have found inventing is a way to fame and fortune. Although Abraham Lincoln said “The patent system adds the fuel of self interest to the fire of genius” the lack of enforcement keeps the fuel of self interest separated from the fire of Venezuelan genius.

In the past they have been some utility in obtaining Venezuela patents. Procter and Gamble sued three infringers of P & G´s diaper patents. The cases were settled by the infringers withdrawing the diapers from the market but P & G was not able to obtain a judgment of infringement.

To further complicate matters it is useful to review the history and status of Venezuela’s current patent law. The last Venezuelan law governing patents that was approved by The Venezuelan Congress was the 1955 National Industrial Property Law. This law was, as are most Latin America’s IP laws, a combined patent and trademark law – that dealt with the difficult conceptual problem of granting property rights to immaterial intellectual property. The 1955 Act did not allow for pharmaceutical patents. Due to pressure from U.S pharmaceutical companies – Venezuela and the, other member countries of the Andean Pact – Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela all members of the Andean Pact decided to circumvent the messy job of passing legislation that would allow for pharmaceutical patents by issuing a Community Decision 85 (Never accepted by Venezuela) and subsequently Decision 486 the current law. The decisions of the Andean Pact had the force of treaties and as such they were supranational law.

However, Venezuela withdrew its membership in the Andean Pact leaving the ownership of patents and trademarks in an uncertain statu,s a clear example of Tropical Law, or perhaps common law. The Venezuelan PTO pretends that Decision 486 remains in effect. This may be the necessary use of Tropical Law since application of the still effective 1955 Act would create chaos. The figures on patents granted by Venezuela published by the British Government show that in 2003 one patent was granted and none in the next four years.

Perhaps AIPPI, AIPLA, PTMG, and other groups should work with Universities in the Tropics to prepare courses and course materials on the Patent System and the Public Domain to convince engineers in Tropical Law countries to invent and file patents. Jeremy Phillips once mentioned that in Scotland inventors are National heroes. This is a story that should be told in Tropical countries.

The Government of Venezuela is extremely hostile to patents. A visit to the PTO website provides a link to Aporrea, a group that has blogs hostile to the patent system, one of the blogs claims that patent’s are responsible for the deaths of millions of children.

The Venezuela Government describes itself as implementing the socialism of the 21st Century. Perhaps they should reflect that the patent system is the perfect marriage of the capitalist and socialist systems, capitalism for 18 years then the socialism of the public domain for eternity.

There are many other instances of Tropical Law that should be brought to the attention of the readers of this blog. Perhaps “Tropical Law” can be a feature in the future with contributions from all parts of the world".

Monsanto consolidates in Central America

Jeremy July 03, 2008 No comments:

Controversial international argicultural biotech business Monsanto Company reports that it has completed its acquisition of Marmot, S.A. Marmot operates Semillas Cristiani Burkard (SCB), a privately-held seed company based in Guatemala City. SCB is the leading Central American corn seed company focused on hybrid corn production. This acquisition is expected to build on Monsanto's corn business in Latin and Central America, enabling it to offer farmers in Central American countries broader access to corn seed products [Source: Trading Markets].

ANVISA to review Brazilian pharma patents -- but is this lawful?

Jeremy July 02, 2008 No comments:

On 23 June 2008 the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) issued Resolution RDC 45 on the approval process for patent applications for pharmaceutical products and processes. This resolution is made under Article 229-C of the Law 9.279/96 (Industrial Property Law), according to which all patent applications for pharmaceutical products and processes must have the approval of ANVISA.

Under Resolution RDC 45, applies to all pending patent application filed from 15 December 1999 onwards, the Brazilian Patent Office will send the patent application files to ANVISA in order to obtain official approval, which will state reasons for giving or denying its approval. ANVISA may ask the applicant to submit documents, objections, searches as well as the results of examination in other countries. additionally, interested third parties will be able to submit documents so as to support ANVISA’s examination during the proceeding.

If ANVISA’s preliminary report concludes that the patent cannot be allowed, or if the agency raises an office action, the patent applicant has 90 days receipt of its decision in which to respond. Failing such a response, the decision is final. There is also a 60- day term, following the date of publication of the decision in the Brazilian Official Gazette, in which the patent applicant may file an appeal against the decision

According to the authors of this information, this resolution in their opinion exceeds ANVISA’s competence, since the patentability examination falls within the competence of the Brazilian Patent Office. Accordingly the legality of this resolution may be subject to court proceedings
[source: Di Blasi Parente, Vaz e Dias & Associados circular, 1 July 2008].

Dictan en Perú medidas complementarias a Decisión N° 486 de la CAN

Alfonso Rivera Canales July 02, 2008 No comments:

El gobierno peruano publicó el día 28 de junio un decreto legislativo que contiene una serie de disposiciones que son complementarias a la Decisión N° 486 de la Comisión de la Comunidad Andina (CAN) que establece el régimen común sobre propiedad industrial. Dichas disposiciones entrarán en vigencia en Perú a inicios del año 2009, cuando entre en vigencia el Tratado de Libre Comercio firmado entre Perú y Estados Unidos.

Las nuevas disposiciones buscan facilitar los procesos en materia de propiedad industrial para que se hagan con mayor transparencia.

Entre las disposiciones figura que no podrán ser declaradas aquellas denominaciones de origen que puedan generar confusión con una marca solicitada, o que constituyan una reproducción, imitación, traducción, transliteración o trascripción, total o parcial de una marca notoriamente conocida.

También queda prohibido el uso de la denominación "marca registrada" (MR) y la expresión "denominación de origen" (DO) en productos que no cuenten con la autorización correspondiente del Instituto Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia y de la Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual (Indecopi).

El Perú ha logrado el apoyo de Ecuador y Colombia para introducir ciertos cambios en la Decisión 486, pero no cuenta con el apoyo de Bolivia y por ello a tomado la decisión de preparar el camino para introducir reformas a la Decisión de manera unilateral. Sin embargo, el próximo 2 de julio se reunirán nuevamente los representantes de los cuatro países integrantes de la CAN y se votará nuevamente el pedido del Perú para realizar los cambios que requiere para poder implementar su Tratado de Libre Comercio con Estados Unidos.