New EU E-Communications Regulatory Body Based In Latvia31/05/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe new Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) will establish its office in Riga, Latvia, it has been announced. The regulatory body, berec.europa.eu, is made up of the heads of the 27 national telecommunications regulators and is assisted by an office to be based in Riga. It also was decided this week that […]
Drug Access Waiver Debate Looms For June TRIPS Council Meeting31/05/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentFollowing weeks of consultations, World Trade Organization members are set next week to discuss a proposal to review a little-used amendment of WTO intellectual property rules aimed at boosting availability of affordable medicines in developing countries.
US Advisory Group Looks At FCC Net Neutrality Principles As Decision Looms29/05/2010 by Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentA technical advisory group is working to drill down on key issues surrounding the US Federal Communications Commission’s proposed internet neutrality principles, but the agency is prepared to make a final decision in the end about how those principles are implemented, a senior FCC official said Thursday.
WIPO Proposals Would Open Cross-Border Access To Materials For Print Disabled28/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 3 CommentsNegotiators trying to find a solution for the world’s print disabled, who have said copyright law is limiting their access to an already meagre supply of reading material in usable formats, began discussing a possible UN recommendation this week. But the print disabled and their strongest supporters have said such a recommendation – which would not be legally binding – would fall short of meeting their needs.
UNCTAD Chief: Economic Recovery Will Revive Doha Talks28/05/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe stalled Doha Round trade negotiations at the World Trade Organization will become important again once the current economic stimuli wear off, Supachai Panitchpakdi, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), told members of the Association of Correspondents Accredited to the United Nations (ACANU) in Geneva today. “Times are now a bit […]
Knowledge-Building, Strong National Policies Essential For Development, Authors Say27/05/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe widening gap in scientific and technological capabilities between some developing countries suffering persistent poverty and rich industrialised countries brings to question why some countries are catching up with richer countries, while others are not. Two key factors for success and innovation are knowledge building and the role of the state as a facilitator, according to UN officials.
World Health Assembly Creates New Initiative For R&D Financing21/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 6 CommentsWorld Health Organization members today took an important step closer to finding new ways to finance research and development into diseases afflicting developing countries.
New Resolution Gives Governments Control Of WHO Work On False Medicines21/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch 5 CommentsAfter an at times bitter week-long debate on the issue of fake and poor quality drugs, member states have decided they will lead the World Health Organization forward towards a resolution on the issue.
NGOs, Industry Weigh Alternatives For R&D Financing, Counterfeiting At WHO21/05/2010 by Catherine Saez, William New and Kaitlin Mara, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe past year’s expert working group process at the World Health Organization on solutions for financing of research and development into diseases afflicting poor nations was flawed and led to an unsatisfactory result, representatives of non-governmental organisations said this week. But innovation and access can both be provided, and the issue of IP protection can be de-linked from the way innovation is done, speakers at a side event to this week’s World Health Assembly said. Meanwhile, NGOs and industry also offered their views on WHO counterfeiting efforts this week.
Conference Debates Strategic Patenting, Innovation & Public Health21/05/2010 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentMUNICH – Whether strengthening patent protection and extending data exclusivity is the way to more innovation in the pharmaceutical and diagnostic sector was the subject of a recent conference here.
