Between Human Rights And IP: An Interview With Laurence Helfer, Co-Author Of Guide To Marrakesh Treaty Implementation31/08/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentWhen in 2013, in Marrakesh, Morocco, a new World Intellectual Property Organization treaty establishing exceptions and limitations for people with visual impairment was adopted, it was hailed by some as a miracle. Entered into force in 2016, the way states implement the treaty is of major importance for the World Blind Union (WBU) so that the treaty serves its purpose to expand access to books for visually impaired people. Laurence Helfer is co-author of a Guide: The World Blind Union Guide to the Marrakesh Treaty: Facilitating Access to Books for Print-Disabled Individuals. Alongside the recent session of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, he sat down with Intellectual Property Watch Senior Writer Catherine Saez to explain the main aims and messages of the Guide.
New Guide Shows How Best To Implement Marrakesh Treaty So Books Are Accessible To Visually Impaired31/08/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe World Blind Union (WBU) has recently issued a guide to the World Intellectual Property Organization treaty providing copyright exceptions for visually impaired people. If the treaty was hailed by all, the way it is implemented could be a gamechanger, and the WBU provides advice to all stakeholders, and in particular governments, so that the treaty is interpreted and implemented to the best interest of the visually impaired. The union also warns against the implementation of two optional provisions, which they say could run counter to the aims of the treaty.
Better Data On Fake Drugs Needed To Fight The Scourge30/08/2017 by Tatum Anderson for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe problem of fake medicines is a big one. But precisely how big? The problem is, when reporting numbers, news stories, reports and institutions have historically bundled the different kinds of medicines together, says an expert at the WHO.
Industry Study Looks At Economics Of Trademark-Intensive Industries In SE Asia30/08/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentA trademark industry study released today looks at the economic contribution of trademark-intensive industries in five countries in the Southeast Asian region, and finds they are making a significant contribution. The study puts a particular focus on Singapore.
Law Enforcement, Industry Hold Event Against IP Crime At UN29/08/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentNEW YORK – An event of international law enforcement, security experts and industry this week at the United Nations headquarters in New York aimed at building strategies against a wide range of intellectual property crime worldwide. At the event, a senior United States official discussed plans to expand a program of US IP experts abroad.
Case Study – Building Effective IP Coverage Efficiently Within An International Engineering Conglomerate29/08/2017 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThis article describes how to build up an effective IP coverage for an international industrial conglomerate by defining the basic IP shield construction for all group companies, setting up IP generation programs and developing an IP focus while doing this efficiently by engaging the management into the IP decisions and managing the mix of internal and external IP service resources.
US Lobby Group Fights China’s Inclusion Of Generic Food Names In EU GI Deal28/08/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentChina and the European Union appear to be on track to complete a deal on geographical indications that could include protection of some 100 products each from the EU and China. Comments have been received on the proposed list and are undergoing translation. Among them, a United States lobby group said the list for China to protect unfairly includes several generic food names that should not belong solely to the EU.
Deadline Next Week For Swedish Sida Training On Genetic Resources And IP Regulation25/08/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentApplications are due by 4 September for an all-expenses-paid Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) Advanced International Training Programme aimed at building capacity in intellectual property and genetic resources in support of innovation.
Did Monsanto Write Malawi’s Seed Policy?25/08/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentTim Wise writes: In late July, a short article was published in a Malawian newspaper: “Press Release on Organization of Seed Fairs.” Issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Water Development, in conjunction with the Seed Traders Association of Malawi, the short statement advised the public that “only quality certified seed suppliers registered with Government to produce and/or market seed should be allowed to display seed at such events.” The release was signed by Bright Kumwembe for the Agriculture Ministry.I received this news in the United States as I prepared a research trip to Malawi, and I was shocked. Malawi is in the final stages of a multi-year effort to reform its seed policy and laws, and the largest point of contention at this point is the failure of the draft policy to recognize and protect so-called “farmers’ rights” to save, exchange, and sell the seeds they grow on their farms.
Malaysia Inclusion In Gilead Voluntary Licence – A Product Of Compulsory Licence Pressure24/08/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentGilead’s announcement today that they would include four middle-income countries (Malaysia, Thailand, Belarus, Ukraine) in their sofosbuvir voluntary licence was a welcome surprise, and will enable millions access to their highly effective, but exorbitantly priced, drug. The decision to include these countries, however, no doubt is a response to increasing pressure from within these countries to either issue a compulsory licence (CL) or a government use licence (GUL), invalidate the sofosbuvir patents, or block data exclusivity for the drug.
