WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center has reported a steady increase in the number of cybersquatting cases filed with them, notably in the field of biotech, pharma, Internet, banking, finance, etc. during the COVID-19 Crisis. A number of domain names have been registered for news and information sites, or even to provide new business offerings, but are often being used to spread misinformation and to engage in illegal and fraudulent activities. Also popular amongst such domain names are the ones related to COVID such as <coronagileadsciences.com> (WIPO Case No. D2020-0776), and <facebookcovid19.com> (WIPO Case No. D2020-0885).

Source: www.wipo.int/amc/en/news/2020/cybersquatting_covid19.html

India & South Africa have submitted a proposal to the council for TRIPS on 2nd October, 2020, for waiver from implementation, application and enforcement of sections 1, 4, 5, and 7 of Part II of the TRIPS agreement in relation to prevention, containment or treatment of COVID-19. Reports have been cited in the proposal regarding IPR hindering access to medical equipment such as diagnostic kits, medical masks, other personal protective equipment, and ventilators. The waiver has been proposed in the interest of efficiently focusing on the pandemic and according to the supply/demand ratio of affordable medical products to the concerned patient

Source: https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/IP/C/W669.pdf&Open=True

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has launched its newest digital service “WIPO Proof” for innovators in any industry. The online service produces tamper-proof evidence which one can use to prove that its digital file existed at a specific point in time. It provides a digital notary type service, creating a date-and-time stamped fingerprint of a digital file.

Source: https://www.wipo.int/wipoproof/en/index.html

Facebook launched a new version of its Rights Manager tool which uses image-matching technology to identify matching content on Facebook and Instagram. The tool, introduced to aid image creators and publishers in protecting their rights, provides measures for protection of intellectual property (IP) such as IP reporting system and a repeat infringer policy.

Source: https://about.fb.com/news/2020/09/helping-creators-and-publishers-manage-their-intellectual-property/

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), on September 24, 2020 launched WIPO Lex – Judgements, an addition to its existing searchable database of national legislations and international treaties in the field of intellectual property. The database hosts key judicial decisions having significant impact or precedential value, which are selected directly by courts or national authorities of the respective member states. The database, which currently hosts judicial decisions from 10 member states, was launched in view of the common challenges faced by courts across jurisdictions.

The database can be accessed free of charge here: https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/main/judgments

Source: https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2020/article_0022.html