Disagreements Remain In WHO Talks On Virus-Sharing After Chan Proposal 22/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization members this week offered views on the global system for virus- and benefit-sharing for pandemic influenza following recently proposed solutions by Director General Margaret Chan aimed at changing the current, ad-hoc model to a more predictable, sustainably-funded system.
US Industry View: Can Content Survive Online? (Podcast) 21/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A forum called the Intellectual Property Colloquium has posted an open-access podcast of a discussion about online business models with Brad Smith, Microsoft general counsel, Scott Martin, executive vice president of Paramount Pictures, and Dan Cooper, vice president of business and legal affairs at MySpace. The discussion is hosted by Doug Lichtman, professor at the […]
Advocates Warn Against ‘Monsantosizing’ Of Global Food Sources 21/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food prepares to present his report today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a global appeal is being filed by farmers and environmental organisations against patents on plants and animals derived from conventional breeding.
European Commission Communication On Copyright Online 21/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Commission on 19 October published a communication on copyright in the knowledge economy that sets out the plan for changes in European copyright over the coming month and in 2010. Three issues the Directorate General Internal Market and Directorate General Information Society want to tackle are: preparation of a EU-wide legal instrument on […]
Academics Debate Patent “Exhaustion Doctrine” 20/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Can a patent-holder ask for royalties from third-party purchasers? The United States Supreme Court said ‘no’ in the 2008 landmark case Quanta Computer Inc. v. LG Electronics Inc. (IPW, US Policy, 25 June 2008). But what does this decision mean for both patent law and rights holders? Five academics – Richard A. Epstein, F. Scott […]
Lamy Reports On TRIPS Consultations 20/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Director General Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization reported today to member states on his most recent consultations on outstanding issues of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). He was speaking in his capacity as chairman of the high-level Trade Negotiations Committee. His 8 October consultation addressed questions posed by […]
EFPIA Unveils Anti-Counterfeit Authentication System 20/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A pilot project intended to counter the challenge of counterfeit medicines entering the legitimate supply chain has been launched this week in Sweden by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations. The project involves individually identifying packs of medicine through the use of a small “data matrix” which, when scanned, can give pharmacists information […]
Spurring Local Innovation In Africa By Improving Access To Information 19/10/2009 by Robinson Esalimba for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment Greater awareness of the existence of open access information resources for innovation and making the information easily accessible and relevant to developing country users could help spur innovation in these countries, according to top technical assistance providers and local innovators.
German Internet Blocking Bill Suspension 18/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In a “turn back the clock” action, the German Liberal Party (FDP) – which is negotiating with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party (CDU) on the programme of the coalition government – is pushing a suspension of the blocking bill some feared would hamper information flow on the internet. The much debated bill, passed earlier […]
Panel Calls For An Ethical Framework For IP And Climate Change 16/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments BANGKOK – Normal negotiation strategy is unlikely to result in an impact on climate change, since the most important stakeholders in fighting it – not yet born – have no seat at the negotiating tables, said a panel last week in Bangkok. An ethical approach is a better way to achieve results, speakers said, and an ethical take on intellectual property rights and alternative forms of innovation may have a place in new climate-friendly economic models.