Gene Editing Divides UN Biodiversity Convention Members On Synthetic Biology Evaluation 28/11/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — After informal closed consultations, a draft decision was issued yesterday on how the UN Convention on Biological Diversity should address potential impacts of synthetic biology, during the biennial conference of the parties taking place this week. The issue of the release of gene drive organisms into the environment was a contentious issue as civil society had been lobbying for a moratorium preventing the release into the wild of those organisms able to wipe out entire species. This morning consensus was still eluding delegates, particularly over the singling out of gene editing in the decision.
New Database Documents The Power Of TRIPS Flexibilities 28/11/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Ellen ‘t Hoen writes: Medicines Law & Policy has published an on-line database of instances of the use of TRIPS flexibilities in public health contexts, titled the TRIPS Flexibilities Database. The publication of the TRIPS Flexibilities Database merits sharing a bit of its history because it has been a work in progress for some time. The database includes cases of actual use of TRIPS flexibilities and instances in which countries planned or threatened to use them. The collection of such cases started ten years ago as part of a research project to document and examine the uptake of the flexibilities contained in the TRIPS Agreement in medicines procurement.
Open Music Initiative: Seeking To Drive The Beat On Global Standards, Rights Attribution 28/11/2018 by David Branigan, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NEW YORK – The Open Music Initiative provides a forum for collaboration across academic, tech and music industry stakeholders around the world, and is working to develop the global standards for music rights attribution that could stand for the next 100 years. Establishing such standards will enable fair compensation to rights holders and creators, and establish a basis for ongoing innovation in the music industry, leading to new digital platforms and services, and new music, according to Open Music members.
German Hate Speech Legislation Receives Mixed Review At German Internet Governance Forum 28/11/2018 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment BERLIN — Germany’s controversial hate speech legislation is working well, a representative of the German Ministry of Justice said during a panel today (27 November) at the German national Internet Governance Forum in Berlin.
CBD Negotiating Group Issues Draft Decision On Genetic Resources Data 27/11/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — The co-chairs of a contact group working to find consensus language on a decision on genetic resources data issued a new draft this afternoon at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity meetings in Egypt.
New US ‘Compromise’ Proposal On Broadcasting Treaty At WIPO Stirs Fresh Negotiations 27/11/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee today are locked away in a private room negotiating on a draft text for global treaty to boost the rights of broadcasters. A key element of the debate, according to participants at this week’s meeting, is a new proposal put forward by the United States that seeks to clarify the scope of protection of the treaty and preserve national-level approaches.
Civil Society Offers Range Of Advice To WIPO Negotiators On Broadcast Treaty 27/11/2018 by Beatrice Marone for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Civil society doesn’t see things from behind a window, but takes the lead in international policy negotiations to discuss issues that affect everyday life. At this week’s World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee meeting, some of the observers took the floor to let delegates know their opinion on the crucial matter of an international treaty on broadcasting under negotiation.
Panellists To CBD: Funds Needed To Save Biodiversity, Genetic Resources Not In Nagoya Protocol Should Be Included 27/11/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment SHARM-EL-SHEIKH, Egypt – The access and benefit sharing protocol of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is based on bilateral agreements between providers and users of genetic resources. There are, however, many cases where genetic resources are dispersed, and difficult to attribute to only one location. The issue is being discussed at the biennial meeting of the CBD member states, in particular the possibility of a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism to address those genetic resources not yet covered by the protocol. A side event yesterday explored the possible conditions and needs for establishing such a mechanism, and called for urgent action.
WIPO Working Toward Agreement To Finish Broadcasting Treaty This Week 26/11/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee is meeting this week with a top agenda item of sending a longstanding treaty on copyright for broadcasters to its final conclusion. Dozens of lobbyists, mainly from Europe and North America, are on hand to help.
Gene Editing: Fears Lead To Call For Moratorium At CBD, Discussions Ongoing 23/11/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Gene editing techniques have opened the way to a new world of innovations. One of them is the potential eradication of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. What appears as a very attractive way to help with malaria eradication is denounced by civil society groups arguing that the technology is in its infancy. Wiping out entire species could have unforeseen environmental, health, and social consequences, they say. They are calling for a moratorium preventing the release of gene drive organisms in the wild. They also describe the gene drive mosquitoes as a Trojan horse, hiding broader interests of agricultural multinational corporations.