Search Results (147)

Pakistan, a country with a rich cultural heritage and diverse products, enacted the Geographical Indications (Registration and Protection) Act 2020 to comply with the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement, which defines GIs as signs linking products to their geographic origin based on unique qualities or reputation. This legal framework aims to protect local products, promote exports, and drive economic growth. To date, Pakistan has 10 registered and 65 notified GIs. This study critically examines Pakistan’s GI framework, highlighting gaps in legislation, enforcement, institutional capacity, and stakeholder awareness. It assesses Pakistan’s alignment with international standards (e.g., the EU model) and explores how GIs can foster sustainable rural development, cultural preservation, and economic growth. As a governance tool, GIs ensure equitable benefit-sharing, enhance market competitiveness, and promote eco-friendly traditional practices. The findings reveal that addressing policy weaknesses and strengthening institutional mechanisms could unlock the full socio-economic potential of GIs, contributing to sustainable industrialization and rural uplift. Aligning Pakistan’s GI framework with global best practices would not only protect indigenous products but also boost their international recognition, reduce poverty, and advance sustainable development goals. Full article

Background: The issue of digital piracy is increasingly prevalent, with its proliferation further fueled by the widespread use of social media outlets such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest, and X. These platforms have become hotspots for the unauthorized sharing of copyrighted materials without due recognition to the original creators. Current techniques for digital watermarking are inadequate; they frequently choose less-than-ideal locations for embedding watermarks. This often results in a compromise on maintaining critical relationships within the data. Purpose: This research aims to tackle the growing problem of digital piracy, which represents a major risk to rights holders in various sectors, most notably those involved in entertainment. The goal is to devise a robust watermarking approach that effectively safeguards intellectual property rights and guarantees rightful earnings for those who create content. Approach: To address the issues at hand, this study presents an innovative technique for digital video watermarking. Utilizing the 2D-DWT along with the KAZE feature detection algorithm, which incorporates the Accelerated Segment Test with Zero Eigenvalue, scrutinize and pinpoint data points that exhibit circular symmetry. The KAZE algorithm pinpoints a quintet of stable features within the brightness aspect of video frames to act as central embedding sites. This research selects the chief embedding site by identifying the point of greatest intensity on a specific arc segment on a circle’s edge, while three other sites are chosen based on principles of circular symmetry. Following these procedures, the proposed method subjects videos to several robustness tests to simulate potential disturbances. The efficacy of the proposed approach is quantified using established objective metrics that confirm strong correlation and outstanding visual fidelity in watermarked videos. Moreover, statistical validation through t-tests corroborates the effectiveness of the watermarking strategy in maintaining integrity under various types of assaults. This fortifies the team’s confidence in its practical deployment. Full article

A prototype of an industrial installation for the deposition of self-restoring nitride coatings on the surface of reed switch contacts using electro-spark erosion alloying was developed, manufactured, and tested under the laboratory conditions at LLC Nitron. It was shown that the coatings are formed inside a bulb of reed switches at the final stage of their production following the impact from the spark breakdown between the contacts, stimulated via alternating magnetic and electric fields. The nitrogen concentration in the surface layers of the nitride coatings, estimated by means of X-ray microanalysis, was ca. 19 at. % and their thickness, measured by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry via sputter depth profiling, ranged between 250 and 350 nm. The novelty of the presented work consists of the development of an innovative piece of equipment, the operating principle and design of which are protected by intellectual property rights (four Russian patents). The technological approach implemented in this installation differs from the industrial galvanic technology due to its high level of environmental safety and economic efficiency, since it does not require the use of gold, ruthenium, or other high-priced metals. Full article

The issue of image copyright infringement is prevalent in current e-commerce activities. Users employ methods such as image cropping, compression, and noise addition, making it difficult for traditional copyright detection technologies to identify and track infringements. This study proposes an image copyright registration, protection, and management method based on artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, aiming to address the current challenges of low accuracy in digital copyright infringement judgment, the vulnerability of image fingerprints stored on the chain to tampering, the complexity of encryption algorithms and key acquisition methods through contract calls, and the secure storage of image information during data circulation. The research combines artificial intelligence technology with traditional blockchain technology to overcome the inherent technical barriers of blockchain. It introduces an originality detection model based on deep learning technology after conducting both off-chain and on-chain detection of unidentified images, providing triple protection for digital image copyright infringement detection and enabling efficient active defense and passive evidence storage. Additionally, the study improves upon the traditional image perceptual hashing in blockchain, which has poor robustness, by adding chaotic encryption sequences to protect the image data on the chain, and its effectiveness has been verified through experiments. Ultimately, the research hopes to provide e-commerce entities with an effective and feasible digital copyright protection and management solution, safeguarding their intellectual property rights and fostering a legal and reasonable competitive environment in e-commerce. Full article

Innovative technologies have become a key driver of global development, enhancing communication, streamlining processes, and facilitating institutional collaboration. This study examines the perceptions of researchers and academic staff involved in research activities within educational institutions in Romania, a country that has faced challenges in intellectual property management and registration processes. The research focuses on the innovation registration process and the need for an online platform leveraging new digital technologies for intellectual property protection. Using an econometric model developed and tested through WarpPLS 8.0, the analysis reveals that 84% of respondents’ perceptions of the innovation registration process can be explained by the independent variables at the pattern level. The findings underscore the importance of aligning global legislative frameworks to stimulate innovation, promote intellectual property rights registration, and support sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, the study advocates for the development of an online platform that integrates artificial intelligence to enhance its functionality, streamline the application process, and foster the creation and dissemination of innovative technologies. By addressing these issues in Romania, the research contributes to global sustainable development objectives by providing a model for improving innovation registration processes worldwide, thus promoting technological advancement, intellectual property protection, and sustainable economic growth. Full article

The objective of this research is to examine the role of intellectual property (IP) in fostering business development, particularly focusing on patent management in Ecuador and its alignment with international standards. The study employs a comparative analysis of Ecuadorian legislation against the framework established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to identify challenges and opportunities within the national IP system. Key methods include reviewing existing legal texts, interviewing stakeholders, and analyzing patent registration processes. The findings indicate that while Ecuador has made significant strides in harmonizing its IP laws with international treaties, such as the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), considerable barriers remain, particularly related to bureaucratic inefficiencies and a lack of technical resources in key institutions like the National Service of Intellectual Rights (SENADI). The conclusions highlight the need for enhanced efficiency and implementation of IP regulations to stimulate sustained innovation growth, attract national and foreign investments, and, ultimately, strengthen Ecuador’s competitiveness in a global economy. This research contributes to the understanding of how effective IP management can serve as a vital tool for economic development and innovation. Full article

Electronic skin (e-skin) is an innovative technology characterized by its flexibility, stretchability, and self-healing properties, designed to biomimic the functionalities of human or animal skin. This technology is well-suited for applications in robotics, prosthetics, and health monitoring since it can sense a wide range of tactile signals, such as humidity, pressure, temperature, and stress. Developing e-skin for wearable devices faces several challenges. One major challenge is the need for soft and stretchable electronic materials, as conventional materials are brittle. Furthermore, the development of skin-like hydrogel devices for wearable electronics faces challenges such as limited functionality, low ambient stability, poor surface adhesion, and relatively high power consumption. Innovation in this area has the potential to pay off. Organizations that invest in and develop innovative e-skin technologies based on biomimetic hydrogels can secure intellectual property rights through patents. This study is dedicated to reviewing the state of the art by presenting what has been patented concerning biomimetic-hydrogel-based e-skin. At the end, a section presents relevant patents to demonstrate the innovation and formulation of such hydrogels as biomimetic materials for e-skin applications. A market overview of e-skins is also presented. This contextualizes the significance of research in biomimetic-hydrogel-based e-skins within the broader commercial landscape. Full article

Blockchain technologies provide new opportunities for media copyright management. To provide an overview of the main initiatives in this blockchain application area, we have first reviewed the existing academic literature. The bibliometric analysis of the literature about copyright and blockchain in the Scopus database identifies four main areas of activity, namely “Digital Rights Management”, “Copyright Protection”, “Social Media”, and “Intellectual Property Rights”. However, it also shows that the literature is still scarce and immature in many aspects, which becomes more evident when comparing it to initiatives coming from the industry. Blockchain has been receiving significant inflows of venture capital and crowdfunding, which have boosted its progress in many fields, including its application to media management. Consequently, we have complemented the review with a business perspective. Existing reports about blockchain and media have been studied and consolidated into four prominent business use cases: “Copyright Management”, “Digital Content Scarcity”, “Marketing, Fan Engagement and Fundrising”, and “Disintermediated Distribution”. Moreover, each one has been illustrated through existing businesses already exploring them. Combining the academic and industry perspectives, this review helps researchers identify the current trends in academic research about media copyright management using blockchain technologies, but without losing track of the state of the art in the industry, which in many cases is more advanced, and the business use cases they can connect their research to. Full article

The imperative for sustainable development demands innovative solutions to address the environmental impact of transportation, particularly in the context of climate change. This study explores the intersection of renewable energy and sustainability within the automotive industry by examining how restrictions on the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles affect patent filings related to automotive engine technologies. Our approach employs a factorial analysis to capture structural shifts in patent filings, utilizing the logarithmic mean Divisia index for index decomposition. We scrutinize patent trends from 1985 to 2019, with a focus on both non-green (internal combustion engine vehicles) and green technologies (battery electric, hybrid electric, and full cell vehicles), to assess the transition towards sustainable transportation. This study also scrutinizes the patenting activities of four major patent offices—China, Japan, the United States, and Germany—to unveil global trends and disparities in sustainable technology innovation. Our findings underscore how a nation’s green investment strategy is contingent upon its developmental stage, with intellectual property rights and R&D incentives playing pivotal roles in shaping R&D landscapes, especially in emerging economies with nascent intellectual property markets. This study also reveals varying strategies for developing green automotive engines across nations, indicating that the growth of green patents in developed countries is probably spurred by financial incentives and enhanced intellectual property rights to promote specific tech advancements. This research contributes to the discourse on sustainability by highlighting the critical role of policy in fostering green technology development and the importance of aligning patent strategies with environmental goals. Full article

In the rapidly evolving biobased materials innovation landscape, our research identifies key players and explores the evolutionary perspective of biobased innovation, offering insights into promising research areas to be further developed by biobased material scientists in search of exploiting their knowledge in novel applications. Despite the crucial role of these materials in promoting sustainable production and consumption models, systematic studies on the current innovation terrain are lacking, leaving gaps in understanding key players, emerging technologies, and market trends. To address this void, we focused on examining patents related to biobased monomers and polymers, aiming to describe the innovation strategies and business dynamics of leading assignees. Embedded within the European Sustainable BIO-based nanoMAterials Community (BIOMAC) project, a Horizon 2020 initiative, our research leverages this unique framework dedicated to advancing the innovation landscape, specifically emphasizing the market readiness of biobased materials. We implemented a multi-stage strategy, prioritizing validated keyword queries to ensure the superior quality and reliability of the collected data. To understand primary contributors within these landscapes, we conducted an in-depth analysis of innovation strategies employed by leading companies. Findings from the ORBIT platform highlighted a remarkable increase in patent publications in the past decade, with China standing out as a key hub of innovation, signaling a strong focus on the development of these materials. Our research explores technological advancements in biobased materials to identify specific areas with potential for further development. By analyzing innovation trends in five key industries, we pinpoint opportunities for innovative solutions to be commercially exploited while ensuring compliance with intellectual property rights within a freedom-to-operate framework. Full article

In recent years, the internet has developed rapidly. With the popularity of social media, uploading and backing up digital images has become the norm. A huge number of digital images are circulating on the internet daily, and issues related to information security follow. To protect intellectual property rights, digital watermarking is an indispensable technology. However, the common lossy compression technology in the network transmission process is a big problem for watermarking. This paper describes an innovative semi-blind watermarking method with the use of deep convolutional generative adversarial networks (DCGANs) for hiding and extracting watermarks from JPEG-compressed images. The proposed method achieves an average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of 49.99 dB, a structural similarity index (SSIM) of 0.95, and a bit error rate (BER) of 0.008 across varying JPEG quality factors. The process is based on an embedder, decoder, generator, and discriminator. It allows watermarking, decoding, or reconstruction to be symmetric such that there is less distortion and durability is improved. It constructs a specific generator for each image and watermark that is supposed to be protected. Experimental results show that, with the variety of JPEG quality factors, the restored watermark achieves a remarkably low corrupted rate, outstripping recent deep learning-based watermarking methods. Full article

Canada’s world-renowned banking sector is well- regulated, capitalized and one of the world’s most stable. It meets the essential pre-conditions for intellectual property (IP) finance methods such as a strong IP regime and a pool of firms with registered trademarks. In 2018 Canada launched its National IP Policy followed by certain IP finance initiatives led by the Canadian Business Development Bank (BDC) in 2019. However, it is not well understood how the Canadian Constitution structures economic relations. Certain longstanding federal and provincial issues remain to be addressed if trademark-backed finance is to become part of mainstream commercial lending in Canada. This article contributes to the nascent academic interdisciplinary trademark law and finance literature. An in-depth literature review highlights the existing gaps between the Canadian federal and provincial legal frameworks that govern security interests in trademarks, and market needs. The traditional legal research methodology evaluates the impact of relevant case law, public policies and law practice, adopting finance, economic and IP rights theory perspectives. A digital shared ledger system technology law solution is proposed to enhance registration of security interests with the aim of making trademark finance in Canada more effective and efficient. This article is foundational in the sense that it paves the way for recommendations for new policies with a view to normalising trademark-backed debt finance processes in Canada. Full article

This paper examines the intellectual property (IP) challenges introduced by 3D printing, a transformative technology enabling widespread innovation, but also raising critical legal questions. It focuses on three main areas: (1) IP issues associated with 3D printing hardware, (2) copyright and licensing complexities related to downloadable 3D files, and (3) IP concerns for commercialized 3D printed items. Through a comprehensive review, the paper highlights how existing IP frameworks struggle to keep pace with the flexibility and accessibility inherent in 3D printing. Proposed solutions, such as blockchain for secure design tracking and enhanced digital rights management (DRM), point towards a more controlled future for digital design protection. Additionally, the study underscores the need for international cooperation to harmonize IP laws, facilitating more effective cross-border enforcement. This work aims to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on IP rights in 3D printing, proposing adaptive strategies to support legal clarity while fostering technological advancement. Full article

Textile pressure sensors represent a recent field area of development within the field of wearable technology and smart textiles. The potential applications of these sensors are diverse, spanning healthcare, sports, and other domains. The objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis and benchmarking of the intellectual property rights (IPR) scenario for textile pressure sensors. Indeed, as the field progresses, it will be necessary to implement ongoing adaptations to IP strategies and legal frameworks in order to effectively address the emerging challenges and opportunities. A number of patent databases have been employed in order to evaluate the patent landscape pertaining to textile pressure sensors. This has involved the utilization of specific keywords. Full article

This study investigates the integration of quantum computing, classical methods, and deep learning techniques for enhanced image processing in dynamic 6G networks, while also addressing essential aspects of copyright technology and detection. Our findings indicate that quantum methods excel in rapid edge detection and feature extraction but encounter difficulties in maintaining image quality compared to classical approaches. In contrast, classical methods preserve higher image fidelity but struggle to satisfy the real-time processing requirements of 6G applications. Deep learning techniques, particularly CNNs, demonstrate potential in complex image analysis tasks but demand substantial computational resources. To promote the ethical use of AI-generated images, we introduce copyright detection mechanisms that employ advanced algorithms to identify potential infringements in generated content. This integration improves adherence to intellectual property rights and legal standards, supporting the responsible implementation of image processing technologies. We suggest that the future of image processing in 6G networks resides in hybrid systems that effectively utilize the strengths of each approach while incorporating robust copyright detection capabilities. These insights contribute to the development of efficient, high-performance image processing systems in next-generation networks, highlighting the promise of integrated quantum-classical–classical deep learning architectures within 6G environments. Full article