Industry Contributions, Benefit Sharing, Virus Genetic Data Discussed By WHO Flu Experts 21/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The group of experts tasked to monitor the World Health Organization pandemic influenza framework met this week with discussions on the partnership contributions that industry is expected to provide to the system, and how influenza viruses’ genetic sequence data should be handled in the context of the framework.
Special Report: IP And Competition Law – Opposing Forces Or Partners For Consumer Welfare? 20/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Intellectual property and competition authorities should collaborate, but other institutions should also have their say, such as health ministries, speakers said at a United Nations meeting of experts this week. And guidelines should be provided to judges in the difficult task of determining whether IP rights monopolies impede on competition, they said. This special report takes a deeper look at IPRs, competition, and differing economies.
UNICEF Tender Allows Gavi To Supply Vaccines For Millions Of Children 20/10/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Gavi, the vaccine alliance, announced yesterday that a UNICEF pentavalent vaccine tender will secure sufficient supplies for the next three years to protect millions of children in Gavi-supported and transitioning countries.
Design Treaty Not Discussed At WIPO Committee; Information Session On GIs To Be Held In Spring 19/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Fresh from intense discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assemblies earlier this month, delegates to a WIPO committee today agreed to hold an information session on geographical indications in the spring, and to further work on industrial designs. However, no further discussions to help break the deadlock on a proposed design law treaty could be arranged this week.
Eli Lilly Commits To Healthcare For 30 Million People In Middle-Income Countries And US By 2030 18/10/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly today announced a stepped-up commitment to provide improved access to quality healthcare for 30 million people in resource-limited settings by 2030.
WHO Pandemic Influenza Advisory Group Meeting In Secret This Week 18/10/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization pandemic influenza framework advisory group is meeting this week, behind closed doors. A consultation is expected to take place on 20 October with stakeholders, and an information session has been organised on 21 October on the work of the advisory group, but no press is allowed in either meeting nor able to obtain any information about any aspect of the week’s events.
Panel: WIPO Assistance Should Provide Developing Countries With Choices On Plant Variety Protection 17/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A side event to last week’s annual General Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization looked at ways for developing countries to design sui generis system for protecting new varieties of plant. The event also looked into the technical assistance provided by WIPO, which, according to the groups, focuses only on the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) system.
WIPO General Assembly Agrees On Two New WIPO Offices; No Deal On Design Treaty 12/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The somewhat puzzling suspense around which countries would be home to new country offices of the World Intellectual Property Organization was partially resolved as the annual WIPO General Assembly came to end yesterday after working till dawn on the bureaucratic issue. Only two candidates out of six could be agreed upon, both in Africa: Algeria and Nigeria. WIPO member states also agreed to amend the organisation’s oversight charter. But they had no luck on the decision to hold a high-level meeting to conclude a treaty on industrial designs.
WIPO Assembly Adopts Revisions For Stronger Oversight, Protection Of Whistleblowers 11/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After much negotiation, amendments to a World Intellectual Property Organization internal oversight mechanism were adopted today by the annual WIPO General Assembly. Under the amendments, investigating allegations of wrongdoing of high-ranking WIPO officials will be made more transparent and facilitate access to documents by WIPO member states in case of an investigation.
WIPO Assembly: IP-Watch Tally Of Finished And Pending Items 10/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the 2016 World Intellectual Property Organization General Assemblies near their close on 11 October, Intellectual Property Watch provides an update on what’s been agreed and what’s still outstanding among the key issues.