WHO Must Reform Emergency Response, Adopt Unified Mechanism, Advisory Group Says 28/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A report by an advisory group tasked with helping with the reform of the World Health Organization’s response to outbreaks and emergency situations calls for a unified response from all geographical levels of the organisation. The recommendations raised concern from some, but the WHO director general said she sees consensus.
WHO Board Debates Framework On Engagement With Non-State Actors 27/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization routinely works with a number of outside actors, such as non-governmental groups, philanthropic organisations, industry and academics. Member states have been trying to establish a framework to regulate such engagement and are still working to produce a consensus document. This week they are trying to extend the mandate of an intergovernmental meeting in the hope that an ultimate meeting in April can solve remaining issues.
WHO To Study Effect Of Nagoya Protocol On Sharing Of Genetic Materials 26/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The implementation of a protocol ensuring access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable benefit-sharing of commercial benefits might affect the sharing of pathogens samples between countries, said the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, who asked the World Health Organization to study possible implications of the protocol’s implementation.
Record Attendance, Agenda Open WHO Board Meeting; Global Vision On Infectious Disease 25/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Response to diseases outbreaks must be changed at the World Health Organization, Director General Margaret Chan told the opening of the Executive Board meeting today. She also called for universal health coverage and the implementation of the international health regulation, and for action in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
EPO Revokes Monsanto Patent On Virus-Resistant Melon 22/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 10 Comments The European Patent Office on 20 January revoked a patent held by Monsanto on virus-resistant melons for technical reasons, much to the glee of opponents of patents on conventional plants. [updated]
WIPO Conference On IP And Development Provisional Programme Is Out 22/01/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The provisional programme for an international conference on intellectual property and development at World Intellectual Property Organization taking place in April is now available.
WHO Board To Address Reform Progress, R&D Financing, Lobbyists/ Foundations 21/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Next week, the World Health Organization Executive Board will hold its biannual meeting. On the agenda are key subjects such as the WHO reform process, sharing of influenza viruses for R&D, and a controversial framework for the WHO’s engagement with actors such as non-governmental organisations, private entities, and foundations. Also on the agenda is the effort to address the growing microbial resistance to antibiotics, and finding a way to finance research and development for diseases affecting primarily developing countries.
ITU Report On Internet Of Things: Great Potential For Development But Privacy, Interoperability Concerns 19/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Connected devices talking to each other and to humans could solve major global challenges and be a vector for global development, according to a new report by the UN International Telecommunication Union and Cisco Systems. However, issues remain, such as strategies to protect privacy, and interoperability between devices and systems.
New Year Brings New Faces To IP World, Bids Others Farewell 08/01/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The New Year brings some new faces in the intellectual property world as several changes were announced at the end of 2015, in particular at the European Commission, in the private sector and non-governmental organisations. In Geneva, the coordination of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean countries changes, and the UN Plant Treaty is working on intersessional committees. And a leading light in the IP publishing world has retired.
UN Initiative On Access To Medicines Calls For Contributions 07/01/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations Secretary-General’s newly formed High Level Panel on Access to Medicines launched a call for contributions by stakeholders at the end of December, in an effort it says could transform millions of lives.