[A2k] Summary by the Chair: Standing Committee on the Law of Patents

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

This is a reminder that the Summary by the Chair for the WIPO Standing
Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) can be found on the following
link:

http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=103652

It should be emphasized that Member States and Observers (including
non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations)
to the SCP have until the end of October 2008 to submit written
comments on the (Report on the International Patent System, SCP/12/3)
which will be reflected in the footnotes or annexes to this document.

Three interesting elements from the summary include:

Following a proposal by the Chair, the Committee

<SNIP>

    (c)  asked the WIPO Secretariat to establish, for the next session
of the SCP, preliminary studies on four issues.  These four issues,
which are not to be considered prioritized over the other issues
contained on the list referred to in paragraph 7, are the following:

-      Dissemination of patent information (inter alia the issue of a
database on search and examination reports);
-      Exceptions from patentable subject matter and limitations to
the rights, inter alia research exemption and compulsory licenses;
-      Patents and standards;
-      Client-attorney privilege;

   (d)  suggested that, in the framework of the SCP and, where
relevant, also with other WIPO bodies, the Director General consider
including in the revised Program and Budget for 2009, provision for a
Conference on issues relating to the implications, including public
policy implications, of patents on certain areas of public policy,
such as health, the environment, climate change or food security;

   (e)  decided that the members of the SCP could submit suggestions
on the future work program of the SCP to the Secretariat.

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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997