WIPO Proposes 10 Percent Cut In Governments’ Annual Contributions20/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe World Intellectual Property Organization has proposed a 10 percent reduction in the contributions its member states make to the UN agency. The proposal, which met with some unanswered questions from WIPO member states at a committee meeting last week, is said to reflect the agency’s robust finances and will be taken up again in September. The move would shrink government contributions to WIPO’s overall budget to less than 5 percent of its total revenues.Member states’ first reading of the proposed budget by WIPO for 2018/2019 also led to some amendments in programmes, notably new indicators of progress.
WHO Influenza Watchdog Network Meeting In Geneva, Setting 5-Year Plan18/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe global network of national influenza centres is at the core of the World Health Organization system of influenza surveillance and response. All year round those national influenza centres collect, interpret and share flu samples or genetic information with the WHO so that seasonal vaccines can be manufactured, and potential pandemics adequately identified and contained.
WHO Study: Most Countries Have Ability To Reach Universal Health Coverage By 203017/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentA new study by the World Health Organization finds that most countries will have the technological and the financial ability to reach universal health coverage in the next 13 years, according to authors.
Arduous Discussions At WIPO For New Country/Regional Offices, No Winners Yet15/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentAttracting a World Intellectual Property Organization external office appears to be a critical priority for a number of countries that have put forward their candidacy for four possible new openings. During the WIPO Program and Budget Committee this week, some of those candidates delivered presentations highlighting their most striking assets, such as bridging continents, region, and economic blocs. But discussions could not lead to the chosen winners this week.
Access To Medicines For All By 2030: New WHO Strategic Framework Sets Vision13/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentAccess to affordable and quality medicines for all is one of the major commitments of the World Health Organization, and its new medicines and health products strategic framework for the next 15 years calls for new research and development (R&D) models, including delinkage of the R&D costs from the price of products, and fair pricing.
WIPO Budget First Reading: SDGs, External Offices, Possible Treaty Negotiation12/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentThe World Intellectual Property Organization members this week have discussed the first draft of the budget of the organisation for the biennium 2018/2019. Questions have been asked about how WIPO is contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, how much WIPO committees and external offices will cost, and how WIPO can help developing countries increase their IP development.
WIPO, A Well-Funded UN Agency, Presents Its Next Budget To Members10/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentThe finances of the World Intellectual Property Organization are healthy to say the least. The United Nations organisation, the only one able to feed its budget from user fees, shows a net result of over US$30 million. This week, WIPO member states are considering the budget for the 2018/2019 biennium, and as well which countries should be chosen to hold external WIPO offices.
Health: Report Calls For Increased Efforts On TB; WHO Warns About Antibiotic-Resistant Sexually Transmitted Disease07/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentTuberculosis is still a deadly killer, and a new report by two humanitarian organisations raises alarm on poor progress on the disease diagnosis and treatment. The report calls for governments to increase efforts to fight the disease, and for the G20 countries to mobilise funds to help, in particular to boost research and development for new treatments. Separately, the World Health Organization issued a call for new treatments to fight antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea.
WIPO Patent Law Committee Agrees On Future Work: Exceptions, Quality, Health, Confidentiality, Tech Transfer06/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentGeneral satisfaction was expressed today at the World Intellectual Property Organization as members of the patent law committee agreed on a future work programme. That is an exercise that they could not complete in December 2016. Included in the work programme is a half-day information exchange on cooperation between patent offices on search and examination, a half-day information exchange on publicly accessible databases on medicines and patent information, and a reference document on exceptions and limitations to patent rights.
WIPO Patent Law Committee Looks At Health, Quality06/07/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentDiscussions carried out at the World Intellectual Property Organization patent law committee this week reflect strong interest for the subjects but from different angles. Topics such as how patents may affect access to medicines are favoured by some countries, while others view patents as the main enabler of innovative new products. Some find collaborative work between patent offices primordial, while others worry that it could be harmonisation in disguise. Proposals are not lacking about activities to be conducted in the committee but countries need to agree on those which meet their common goals. [Update: the committee finished early with an agreement on future work. Story to come shortly.]
