Governments, WHO, Reveal Industry’s Back-Channel Battle Against Tobacco Legislation 30/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The shadow of the tobacco industry was present at last week’s annual World Health Assembly, featuring the villain in what World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan called a theatre of the absurd. The tactics of the “evil industry,” as she called it, aimed at undermining countries’ efforts to implement tobacco control legislations were illustrated with concrete country examples at a side event during the week.
EU Parliament Advises No Patent On Conventional Breeding 29/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the patenting of essential biological processes.
No Agreement On Future Work At WIPO Committee On Patents 26/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A full day and an evening of informal discussions was not enough for the World Intellectual Property Organization member states to reach agreement on the future work of the patent committee yesterday. Developed and developing countries held firm to their positions after reconvening in plenary past midnight, with disappointment as sole common ground.
WIPO Committee On Patents Struggles To Decide On Future Work 25/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments On the last day of the weeklong meeting of the WIPO committee on the law of patents, discussions are ongoing to find consensus on the future work of the committee. The week has been a theatre of strong stances dividing developed and developing countries on areas such as patents on health, patent flexibilities and the quality of patents.
WIPO Patent Committee Moves To Strategic Consultations 24/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization patent committee today circulated informal suggestions on ways forward for this week’s wide-ranging committee agenda.
Group Looks At Effects Of America Invents Act On Plant Breeders 24/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CIOPORA, an international association of plant breeders, held its annual meeting recently with a focus on novelties in plant patents introduced by the America Invents Act, to become effective on 16 March 2013.
WIPO Committee On Law Of Patents Walks A Fine Line 22/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The law of patents is being discussed this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization with a focus on the potentially difficult issues of limitations and exceptions, high quality patents, and patents related to public health.
Drug Safety Needs Global Cooperation Of Drug Regulators, Officials Say 19/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the eve of the World Health Assembly, the permanent mission of Brazil organised an informal meeting on sanitary regulation and how to improve cooperation among drug regulatory agencies. Major stakeholders were invited to present challenges and ongoing efforts to improve global quality, safety and efficacy of medical products.
International Standards Key To Helping The World With Many Issues, ISO Says 18/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment International standards can help economic, societal and environmental issues, Rob Steele, secretary general of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), told a press briefing this week. The organisation also has interests in intellectual property protection.
After Sharp Concerns, Cooperation Prevails On UNCTAD’s Mandate For Next Four Years 16/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After the thirteenth quadrennial session of the United Nations body focusing on trade and development, which was to set its mandate for the next four years, delegates reached consensus and avoided major pitfalls, according to several developed and developing country sources. The governments also worked out differences on UNCTAD’s mandate for work on intellectual property rights.