WIPO Development Committee Opens With Focus On SDGs, Tech Transfer, New Projects 14/05/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property opened today with an agenda of issues such as the development dimension of IP, technology transfer, and how WIPO can participate in the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, new development projects proposed for WIPO work would focus on women, software, and tourism.
Collective Efforts By Civil Society Groups Bar The Way To Hepatitis C Patents 10/05/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 14 Comments Many hold the view that Gilead’s revolutionary treatment against hepatitis C (sofosbuvir) marked the beginning of a shift in position toward the high prices of medicines, as high-income countries were also faced with an untenable burden to their health systems. In a number of lower and middle-income countries, civil society organised itself to increase access to sofosbuvir for millions in need.
Truvada Case Shows Civil Society’s Success With Pre-Grant Opposition 08/05/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 15 Comments The example of Gilead antiretroviral Truvada in Argentina and Brazil shows how civil society efforts to use patent opposition to patents it felt were unjustified were rewarded by patent withdrawal and rejection, even if the situation in Brazil might not be entirely settled.
Civil Society Key In TRIPS Flexibility Implementation 04/05/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 22 Comments When the agreement on intellectual property was adopted by the World Trade Organization, a number of flexibilities were included in the text, mainly to give developing countries policy space to implement the agreement with development considerations. However, some countries through lack of awareness or economic pressure have not used those flexibilities fully, and found themselves facing difficulties addressing their public health needs, which some associate with this failure to use the flexibilities. Civil society has engaged in notable efforts to counter pressure and raise policymakers’ awareness for a wider access to medicines.
World Health Assembly 2018 Preview: Guide To Key Issues 03/05/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Health Organization celebrated its 70th anniversary last month. Since the inception of the organisation, the world has changed, and so have its challenges. The global rise of non-communicable diseases is one example of those challenges, as well as the escalating prices of new medicines and chronic access issues in many countries. The annual World Health Assembly will open on 21 May with an ambitious new General Programme of Work for 2019-2023, which promises 1 billion more people under universal health coverage.
The Changing Copyright Climate And WIPO: Interview With IPOS Chief Executive Daren Tang 02/05/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The copyright committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization is meeting at the end of May with some complex issues on the agenda that may see new approaches for moving them forward, including the protection of broadcasting organisations, and limitations and exceptions to copyright for certain actors such as libraries and archives. Daren Tang, the chair of the committee, and chief executive of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), recently engaged in an interview with Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez, providing his insights on the discussions, changes in the world affecting copyright, and what to expect of the next session of the committee.
Geneva Developed Country Attachés For IP And Health To Meet 30/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Developed country attachés in Geneva for intellectual property and for health are invited to meet in a closed session tomorrow to exchange information in the run-up to the annual World Health Assembly taking place in late May.
WIPO Members Energised On Protection of Country Names, GIs, New Technological Designs 26/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks concluded early today with plans for further work and a full week session for the next meeting. Member states are called into action to provide inputs so that the WIPO secretariat can come up with questionnaires on the protection of new technological designs, such as icons, and on the protection of geographical indications. Another issue for which member states are asked to contribute inputs in how to protect country and geographical names.
World IP Day: Women Are Celebrated But Gender Gap Persists 26/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The annual World Intellectual Property Day (26 April) is dedicated to women this year at the World Intellectual Property Organization. On the occasion, several countries are organising an exhibition and the screening of a film celebrating the life of Hedy Lamarr. Austrian/American actress who was also an inventor.
Protection Of New Technological Designs, Country Names, GIs At WIPO This Week 23/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment New technological designs, such as symbols, visual metaphors, and pointing devices are on the menu of this week’s meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks. The protection of country names against registration as trademarks and their use on the internet, and geographical indications are also prominent topics, and an information session will be held tomorrow. Discussions on a potential industrial design treaty will be kept for the WIPO General Assembly this fall.