Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the technology at the centre of the fourth industrial revolution. It is already having an impact on daily life around the world, and equally is influencing intellectual property. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published a Revised Issues Paper on Intellectual Property Policy and Artificial Intelligence. Within the framework of an open-ended...

At their General Assembly, the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) appointed Daren Tang of Singapore as the new Director General. He will succeed Francis Gurry, who has led the organisation for twelve years. Mr Tang’s six-year term of office will begin on 1 October. With reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, the new Director General emphasised that, more than...

In response to criticism from the US entertainment industry, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) placed Switzerland on a ‘watch list’ in 2016 in its annual report on countries that insufficiently protect American IP interests (the Special 301 Report). The USA argued that it was not sufficiently possible to enforce copyright on the internet in Switzerland. In recognition of amendments to...

Every 26 April marks World Intellectual Property Day. This year, the focus is on how innovation can create a green future and the various ways in which IP can be used to achieve this. Intellectual property has a key role to play in tackling climate change. “New climate-friendly innovations and new ways of thinking are urgently required to tackle the climate crisis and achieve a green future,”...

Whether an artistic photograph, an amateur snap, or a standard product photo – under the modernised Copyright Act (CopA) all photos are now protected, whether analogue or digital, or taken by an amateur or a professional. This applies whether the photographs have individual character or not. The extended protection for photographs is one of the main changes in the new Copyright Act. It comes into...

The Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) is launching the certification course CAS IP Law this autumn. The course was developed in cooperation with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI). The goal of the cooperation is to foster knowledge about intellectual property. The IPI supported the ZHAW in the conception of the course and is also providing several experts as...

On 11th February 2020, Switzerland ratified two agreements of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The Beijing Treaty improves protection for actors at international level by enabling them to make a case against any unauthorised use of their performances. Actors already have this level of protection at national level. The Marrakesh Treaty improves access to copyright-protected...

Whether it is counterfeit watches or handbags, it should soon be easier for the Federal Customs Administration (FCA) to destroy fake products in small consignments. A new procedure aims to reduce the administrative effort by giving the authorities more leeway for their checks. These checks are essential – the importation of small consignments from Asia into Switzerland increased sixfold between...

The National Council, as second chamber, has approved the motion “Towards a modern Swiss patent” from Councillor of States Thomas Hefti. The motion, which was approved on 12 December 2019, has three objectives: a full patent examination for Swiss patent applications, the introduction of a utility model, and an extended opposition procedure. The IPI, as the competent federal authority, will...

From 11 to 13 September, IP experts from around the world gathered in Zurich for the European Policy for Intellectual Property (EPIP) Conference. The topic: the future of IP. Over the course of three days at ETH Zurich, attendees took part in lectures, panel discussions and workshops on IP rights. Well-attended IPI panel As one of the conference sponsors, the IPI organised a panel entitled...