‘Damaging’ Provisions On IP Dropped From TPP Agreement, MSF Says 15/11/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Trade ministers negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) without the United States have dropped many problematic provisions related to intellectual property and health, Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) reported today. Also removed from the agreement appears to be the investor-state dispute settlement provisions, according to a source.
USPTO’s Revised Patent Fee Schedule Raises Price Of IPR Process 14/11/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today issued changes to some patent fees, including increases in certain areas, including the cost of using the inter partes review process. Following feedback from users, the office went with some proposed increases, while keeping others at existing levels despite proposals to increase them, it said.
Global Fund Chooses Former UK Banker Peter Sands As New Director 14/11/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria today selected Peter Sands, a former bank CEO who is involved in health projects at the World Bank and elsewhere, as its next executive director.
US Congress Members Signal Move To Block Allergan Patent Deal With Tribe 14/11/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of a US congressional subcommittee on intellectual property held a hearing last week that appeared aimed at finding ways to stop companies from “renting” the sovereignty of Native American tribes in order to avoid a process that can lead to the invalidation of patents. Elected officials called a deal between Allergan pharmaceutical company and a northeastern tribe a “sham” and a “mockery”, and signalled the start of the legislative procedure to prevent such deals.
As Global Fund Board Meets To Choose New Director, Sands Seeks To Reinstate Candidacy 13/11/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Days after withdrawing from consideration to be the next director of the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the UK’s Peter Sands has asked to be reinstated. The actions come as the Fund’s Board gathers this week to choose among the final candidates for head of the international health funding organisation based in Geneva.
New Draft Action Plans On Copyright Limitations And Exceptions At WIPO 13/11/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization has grasped the nettle after years of discussion on the issue of limitations and exceptions to copyright, and provided draft action plans, one each for libraries, archives, museums, educational research institutions, and persons with other disabilities than sight impairment. The plans, being discussed in this week’s committee meeting, include brainstorming sessions, studies, and regional seminars, and conferences to advance understanding and issues related to copyright for those particular actors.
Next Global Congress On IP And The Public Interest 13/11/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property has announced the hosting of Fifth Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest, from 27-29 September 2018. And it is now actively seeking sponsors, partners and expressions of interest.
First Consultations Held On WHO Pandemic Flu Framework Options 10/11/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Health Organization is consulting member states and stakeholders on the future of its mechanism to help prepare the world for the next influenza pandemic. It is particularly asking whether countries should submit not only the biological samples of their influenza viruses, but also their genetic information through the mechanism. Also in question is whether the mechanism should be extended to cover seasonal influenza. Stakeholders had different views but all questioned the absence of recognition by the WHO of a widely used database currently hosting most of the world’s influenza genetic information.
WIPO Vaccines Report Contestable, With UN High-Level Panel Misquoted, Advocate Says 10/11/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization this week held an event that delved into research, markets and access for vaccines with panels that showed unusual breadth of representation for the UN IP agency. But health advocates have taken issue with the wording of a report released by WIPO at the event.
WIPO Hosts Widely Represented Discussion On Vaccine Innovation And Access 09/11/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A well-represented set of experts this week held discussions on the current situation of access to vaccines, the market, the role of pharmaceutical companies, and partnerships. Vaccines were not a field much affected by patents in the past, but the situation has changed and new vaccines are now covered by intellectual property, which might constitute a barrier to access, according to speakers.