Pfizer CEO Ian Read Elected To Rotating IFPMA Presidency30/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentPfizer Board Chairman and CEO Ian Read has been elected as the next president of the Geneva-based International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), a two-year role.
WHO Board May Discuss UN High-Level Panel Report On Medicines Access30/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe UN World Health Organization this week clarified that the possibility exists for the WHO Executive Board to discuss a recently released report from a UN Secretary General-appointed panel that makes recommendations for improving global access to medicines.
Report: IP, Access To Science A Troubled Relationship30/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentA new academic report looks into the relationship between intellectual property and access to science and culture, in the wake of work on the issue by former United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, Farida Shaheed. Contributors to the report aimed at reflecting on how the intellectual property system can foster economic growth while encouraging non-economic values and objectives of human development.
Hundreds Of Civil Society Groups Urge RCEP Negotiators To Reject Imported TPP Clauses30/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAs 16 Asia and Pacific nations prepare to meet in Indonesia next week for the next round of negotiations for a large regional trade agreement called RCEP, more than 300 civil society groups signed a letter urging negotiators to reject efforts to bring in texts from the separate Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
UK Decision To Ratify EU Patent Court Leaves Key Questions Hanging30/11/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe United Kingdom government is preparing to ratify the Unified Patent Court Agreement, it said on 28 November. The move took the patent community by surprise but failed to relieve uncertainty about what will happen when the UK finally Brexits the EU, according to patent attorneys in the UK.
New Draft Articles For The Protection Of Traditional Knowledge On Table At WIPO30/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentNew draft articles published this morning at the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge show signs of progress in terms of reducing options. Meanwhile, the United States introduced a proposal for a discussion of what should be protectable and what is not intended to be protected. Delegates have to deliver their take on both documents this afternoon.
Dominica Accepts TRIPS Health Amendment; Two More To Go?29/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsThe government of Dominica has deposited its instrument of acceptance of the 2005 so-called “paragraph 6” amendment to international intellectual property trade rules aimed at making it easier for countries to export affordable medical products to developing countries. Dominica’s signing brings the number of signers to 65 percent of WTO members, according to the WTO. Two-thirds of WTO members must accept it for the amendment to go into effect, but it is unclear exactly how many members that represents. It appears that two or three more members will tip the scale.
CERN Staff Association Says There’s A “Loose Screw” At Top Of EPO29/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe Staff Association of the Geneva-based European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) this week issued a strongly worded statement in solidarity with staff at the European Patent Office. They called the EPO essential to Europe and said the EPO president’s repressive “19th century”-style anti-worker tactics are endangering the institution and the European economy.
FAO Postpones New Director For Office In Geneva29/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) today announced the postponement of the assumption of duties of the person appointed to become the new director of the FAO liaison office in Geneva. The postponement comes after the government of Peru raised concerns that FAO’s appointment of former Peruvian first lady Nadine Heredia Alarcón interferes with a government investigation of corruption and money-laundering against her.
First Attempt At Bridging Textual Gaps On Traditional Knowledge Protection At WIPO29/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentA new text suggested by facilitators in the ongoing discussions on the protection of traditional knowledge at the World Intellectual Property Organization attempts to tighten options to facilitate further discussions. They focused on the policy objectives of the potential treaty, what it should cover, and who should benefit from it – whether only indigenous peoples or states as well. Separately, Switzerland made a suggestion for a way forward with “positive” protection of TK.
