UNCTAD Ecommerce Week Opens, Development Dimensions, Data Protection 16/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As regulation of data protection is high in the global news feed following Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony to the United States Congress, the fourth edition of Electronic Commerce Week of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) opened today.
Dozens Of NGOs Oppose Proposed EU Watch List On IP Rights 16/04/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A wide-ranging list of international nongovernmental organisations today issued a letter to European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström opposing a proposal to establish a “watch list” of countries deemed failing to protect European intellectual property. The groups raised concern that the list would violate World Trade Organization rules on intellectual property, have a chilling effect on developing countries’ public health initiatives, and lead to expanded and untenable levels of IP enforcement.
IPRs Seen To Impact Climate Change Technology Transfer In Africa 16/04/2018 by Justus Wanzala for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — With high vulnerability to adverse effects of climate change, African countries are keen to develop, acquire and disseminate technologies for mitigation and adaptation.
China’s “Theft” Of Foreign Technology Prompts Unlawful US Response, Experts Say 13/04/2018 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This time Donald Trump was correct: China has, for years, unfairly obtained and exploited American intellectual property and technology. But Trump’s response – imposing $50 billion in tariffs annually on a wide variety of Chinese imports – is problematic, experts warn. The tariffs appear to violate World Trade Organization rules, undermine the international rules-based economic order that has served the West well for decades, and threaten to ignite a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.
Fairness In Research Partnerships, Reporting System Presented At Geneva Health Forum 13/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Research collaborations between institutions in the North and institutions in the South often show a scientific and power imbalance. In the context of growing concerns about this issue, initiatives are being developed to increase fairness in research partnerships. In particular, the Research Fairness Initiative, providing a reporting system for institutions is gaining traction, according to speakers at the Geneva Health Forum this week.
US House Judiciary Committee Approves Landmark New Copyright Package Seen Likely To Advance 12/04/2018 by Emmanuel Legrand for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment American songwriters and performers achieved a rare feat in a highly polarized and partisan political environment: unite policymakers from all sides of the House of Representatives, and even get on board tech companies and broadcasters to support the most significant piece of copyright legislation in the United States since the 1998’s Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Hope For Hepatitis C Patients In Poor Countries – New Affordable Combination With High Cure Rate 12/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new affordable combination treatment for hepatitis C patients with a 97 percent cure rate was announced today.
Study: Global Consumption Of Antibiotics Rising, In Particular In LMICs; Policy Change Needed 12/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In the face of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, a recent study of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNSA) found that the antibiotic consumption rate in low and middle-income countries has substantially increased in recent years. At the same time, inequities in drug access persist in many countries, with high rates of infectious disease-related mortality, according to the study.
At Geneva Health Forum: Importance Of High Quality Of Health Systems, Beyond Access 11/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Achieving a high percentage of universal health coverage often does not translate into a high quality of health systems, according to speakers at the opening of the Geneva Health Forum. While in developed countries people are demanding better quality, the expectations of people living in low and middle-income countries need to be raised, they said. Another panel looked at the use of big data and mathematical modelling as ways to improve health systems, including Facebook monitoring.
Taiwan IP Office Moves Beyond Politics To Forge Links With Other IP Offices, Enforce IP Rights 10/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment TAIPEI, Taiwan — The building is impressive. Taiwan’s intellectual property office, located in the Dan-an district of Taipei, deals with patents, trademarks, designs, and utility models. Not being a recognised member of the United Nations, Taiwan cannot access the World Intellectual Property Organization treaties, in particular the Patent Cooperation Treaty. However, Taiwan is dedicated to enforcing IP rights, and entertains agreements with several IP offices in the world, including China, which is Taiwan’s major trading partner.