WHO Ebola Vaccine Meeting Draws Commitment From Pharma, Donors; MSF Sees Need For Concrete Actions 24/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A high-level meeting convened by the World Health Organization yesterday on the issue of access to and financing of Ebola vaccines resulted in a set of commitments, though not with sufficient urgency for those working on the ground. The pharmaceutical industry committed to scale up production, while donors pledged funds without disclosing how deep their pockets might be.
WIPO Launches Guide On Use Of IP For Arts And Cultural Festivals 24/10/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization announced the publication of a practical guide on how best to use intellectual property for organisers of arts and cultural festivals.
TRIPS Council Next Week: Tobacco, Innovation, Non-Violations, Public Health Review 22/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The next meeting of the World Trade Organization Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is scheduled to take place on 28-29 October. In addition to the regular agenda items of the Council, two additional agenda items have been submitted by members, relating to tobacco plain packaging and innovation. Image Credits: Catherine Saez
UPOV Meetings Conclude With New Observers; Tanzania Can Become UPOV Member 22/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The international body protecting new varieties of plants concluded a week-long set of meetings with a number of decisions, among which was the re-appointment of its secretary general, and the addition of an international organisation and a farmers’ organisation as observers. The national legislation on plant breeders of Zanzibar was approved, opening the way for Tanzania to become a UPOV member.
WTO Director General Presents TRIPS As Major Tool For Trade Growth 21/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevêdo this week hailed WTO’s intellectual property agreement, saying the past two decades show it provides a balanced multilateral foundation for the growth of trade in knowledge-rich products and services.
Ebola Vaccine Candidates Centre Of Attention; Clinical Trials, IP Negotiations Start 21/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Today, the World Health Organization gave a press briefing to update journalists on what to expect in the near future on Ebola treatments and vaccines.
UNCTAD Forum: Local Drug Manufacturing A Key To Universal Health Coverage 16/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Local production of medicines in developing countries is key to advancing universal health coverage, but other factors need to be considered, such as the involvement of all stakeholders and policy coherence in governments, according to speakers attending the World Investment Forum this week. Several speakers called for a paradigm shift in global health.
Preparations Begin For Lisbon Revision At WIPO; Procedural Question Raised 15/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The 28-member Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and their International Registration is en route to being revised to include geographical indications and allow international organisations to join the agreement. But some other member countries of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which oversees the agreement, are raising procedural questions and intend on having a say on the revision. [Update: new proposal now available]
EU Legislation On Nagoya Protocol Becomes Effective; What Effect On Indigenous Peoples’ Rights? 14/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The entry into force of an international treaty facilitating access to genetic resources and ensuring the fair sharing of potential commercial benefits has prompted the applicability of a European Union regulation relating to the treaty. This led a researcher to call on the treaty members to ensure its implementation protects the rights of indigenous and local communities.
UPOV Governing Body Meets This Week Amid Civil Society Concerns Over Harmonisation 13/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is holding meetings of its governing and technical bodies this week. In particular, the UPOV Council is expected to renew Francis Gurry’s mandate as the organisation’s secretary-general, approve technical documents, and confirm the conformity of a Tanzanian plant breeders’ rights act. Meanwhile, civil society has sounded the alarm over what it considers to be efforts to harmonise the application and examination procedures by the seed industry. Separately, a civil society study, carried out on three developing countries claims that UPOV 1991 might be threatening the global right to food.