Stakes Are High For WIPO Patent Harmonisation Meeting31/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe stakes are high for many participants in a 1-2 June negotiation at the World Intellectual Property Organisation, as the future of efforts to harmonise international patent laws is on the table. Developing country governments and non-governmental organizations raised concerns in the lead-up to this week’s Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) meeting […]
Medical R&D Treaty Debated At World Health Assembly30/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentExperts attending the U.N. World Health Assembly this month debated a proposal to create an international treaty on medical research and development aimed at making medical treatment affordable globally while ensuring continuing innovation in the area. The proposed treaty was created in consultation with a variety of non-governmental and government experts, and in February, 162 […]
WHO Board Delays Decision On Trade-Related Proposal27/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe World Health Organisation Executive Board on Friday postponed to January a proposal urging governments to adopt national policies on international trade and health. The draft resolution led by Thailand had the support of Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China, Iraq, Jamaica, Kenya, Nepal, Sudan, Thailand, Tonga, Viet Nam, and others, but the board put […]
WIPO Working Group Recommends Consideration Of Audit Committee26/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentEditor’s Note: This article was modified on 6 June, 2005. A working group at the World Intellectual Property Organisation on Wednesday agreed to recommend the consideration of a new committee to conduct independent audits of the U.N. body. The effort in some ways reflects a wider trend across the United Nations toward greater financial accountability. […]
Health Assembly Officials Watch For Last-Minute Amendments20/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAt the U.N. World Health Assembly negotiations in Geneva, officials have been watching carefully for the last-minute introduction of any amendments they view as unfavourable. This is true for all of the texts being developed, only some of which have a direct relation to intellectual property issues. The assembly, which runs from 16 to 25 […]
May Edition of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Available19/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentA note to our readers: The May edition of Intellectual Property Watch’s Monthly Reporter is available on our website. The monthly publication, available online and in hard copy every month, features an updated compilation of top stories appearing on the IP-Watch Website (www.ip-watch.org). Click here to read the May edition.
Experts Discuss Essential Drugs Patent Pool Proposal19/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentConsumer representatives, United Nations diplomats, drug industry representatives and others this week discussed a proposal to form a patent pool for essential medicines. The proposal was put forward by Consumers International and the Consumer Project on Technology (CP Tech) at the annual U.N. World Health Assembly, and on Tuesday filled a room with people holding […]
Pressure Rises On Drug Patents In Brazil15/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentBrazil, a developing country leader on international intellectual property issues, has come under pressure at home and abroad over whether to lift domestic patents on foreign pharmaceuticals for AIDS to allow cheaper generic versions to be produced. This week, nearly 200 non-governmental organisations from around the world signed onto a letter urging the Brazilian government […]
Ten Years Later, U.S. Report On IPR Compliance Still Questioned12/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentTen years after the signing of a multilateral agreement pitched as a vehicle to help developing countries defend against unilateral actions against them by larger countries, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) annual report on trading partners’ protection of U.S. intellectual property rights is still questioned for its fairness or even legality, according […]
Key US Official On TRIPS And Public Health To Step Down11/05/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentAmbassador Linnet Deily, the United States representative to the World Trade Organization, has informed staff that she will be leaving office on June 15, according to a US trade official. Deily, who said she will be returning to the United States to spend more time with family, played a key role in the current round […]
