Farmers’ Advocacy Groups Rejected As Observers In Plant Rights Organisation 10/11/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) has denied two farmers’ advocacy organisations observer status to its governing Council on grounds that they have not demonstrated expertise relevant to the intergovernmental body’s work, stirring concern that opposition groups are being denied participation. Meanwhile, the functional head of UPOV will step down this spring after a decade of leadership, with several candidates in the running for his replacement.
Generics Producers: Criminal Sanctions Can Stop Counterfeit Drugs 10/11/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Generic medicines Association today issued a call for criminal sanctions rather than technology to stem the flow of counterfeit drugs. This will stop counterfeiters, not bar-codes, said Antonyia Parvanova, a member of the European Parliament, according to an EGA press release. He was speaking at an EGA event on 10 November. The European […]
Eduardo Pisani Of Bristol-Myers Squibb Is New IFPMA Director General 10/11/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations has appointed a new director general, Eduardo Pisani, to take office 1 January 2010.
“Most Important” Biodiversity Access/Benefit Meeting 09/11/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The UN Convention on Biological Diversity is this week undertaking what it said could be the most important negotiation in its history. The CBD is negotiating details of a fair and equitable access and benefit sharing (ABS) regime – in particular, the use of traditional knowledge as related to genetic resources and capacity building and […]
IP Enforcement Work At WIPO Gets Boost From Developing Nations 06/11/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 2 Comments Developing countries this week increased their proactive involvement in the enforcement agenda at the World Intellectual Property Organization, according to participants at the 2-4 November Advisory Committee on Enforcement meeting.
ACTA Internet Chapter Leak Signals Far-Reaching Copyright Policy 05/11/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments As governments negotiating the secretive Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) meet in Seoul this week, public interest concern has surfaced over leaked information on internet enforcement.
MPAA On Broadband, Net Neutrality: Regulation Good, Not Good 04/11/2009 by William New and Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) this week urged the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) “to make the protection of creative content online a core and guiding principle” of its new National Broadband Plan. But its view suggests it would support stronger regulation over the internet, an approach it has strongly opposed in other areas.
Medicines Access Again Captures Attention At WTO As Progress Urged In Round 30/10/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Access to medicine and preservation of biodiversity topped the agenda at the World Trade Organization Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Council meeting this week, as a new alleged drug seizure in France, a concern over a largely-unused amendment to TRIPS intended to help developing countries gain access to medicine, and a renewed mandate on biodiversity at the World Intellectual Property Organization influenced the issues on the table.
Betty King Nominated To Be Next US Ambassador In Geneva 23/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Betty Eileen King of New York has been nominated next United States permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, an ambassador-level posting, the US Mission announced. The nomination has been sent to the US Senate for confirmation. This would not be King’s first ambassador-level posting. She was nominated to represent […]
US Chamber of Commerce Takedown Notice Targets Parody Site 23/10/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Chamber of Commerce industry group has issued a Digital Millennium Copyright Act takedown notice against a ‘parody’ website that mocked the Chamber, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Earlier this week, a fake press briefing purportedly from the business lobby made international headlines for announcing an apparent about-face in the Chamber’s controversial […]