Likelihood of Success

Michael Factor writes that notwithstanding the “normalization” guaranteed by the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan signed by the late King Hussein and Yitzchak Rabin, Jordanian lawyers hold themselves to a “higher” standard and refuse to do business with Israelis, whether lawyers or companies:

Some of our clients, particularly pharmaceutical manufacturers, file in Jordan, and have had applications abandoned.

In this instance, it is Jordan that loses out. Israeli science and engineering is more advanced than that or her neighbors, but labor is cheaper in the surrounding Arab states. A normalization of relationships between Israel and Jordan would result in closer economic cooperation that is more important to Jordan than to Israel.

Of course, this should be dealt with on a political level. It does not help that when the Special 301 Report published, Ben Eliezer (Fuad) the Minister of Trade and Industry . . .  announced his ignorance of IP issues. One also wonders where WIPO is.

So… where is WIPO?  Well, before pointing a finger I’d like to know what it knows and when it knew it.

Oh, you’re wondering what “the Special 301 Report” is?  Me too. Every knows about the Special 301 Report, which you can get here, assuming you haven’t already memorized it as I have. Why, you know what they say:  The “Special 301” Report is an annual review of the global state of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement. This Report reflects the Administration’s resolve to encourage and maintain effective IPR protection and enforcement worldwide.

Call me Fouad

Oh, and Fouad?  That’s this guy.  Yeah, well.

Hat tip to @IP_Updates.