UN-Led Commission Sees Needs In Internet Governance, Science, Technology 08/06/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A commission under the United Nations charged with monitoring progress in improving science and technology in places where access is difficult and capacity to use that access scarce, concluded its recent annual meeting with draft resolutions on internet and society and on development and science. One notes that there is still much work to be done to bridge the ‘digital divide’ that creates disparities in access to information technology and knowledge in the world; the other calls on governments and UN institutions to find innovative ways to support innovative capacity.
Drug Seizures In Frankfurt Spark Fears Of EU-Wide Pattern 05/06/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments Health advocates have raised alarm over reports that several million pills of generic medicine were held up in Frankfurt airport in May despite being destined for a different port. And new information has come to light indicating Dutch seizures were more numerous than originally thought. These developments have prompted outcry and the assertion that a European-wide law on customs and intellectual property is problematic.
US Bill Would Prohibit Generics Delay 04/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The practice of brand name companies paying generic manufacturers to delay the entry of lower-priced generics into the market could become illegal, if a bill before the United States House of Representatives passes. The bill (available here [pdf]) is “to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of […]
China Blocking Key Foreign Media Sites 03/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments China is blocking its citizens’ access to leading international social media and news websites in the lead-up to the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square anti-democracy massacre in Beijing. Media and information sharing sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Blogger, and Flickr as well as mainstream media such as the Financial Times, New York Times and […]
CVs Of WIPO Leadership Nominees Now Available 03/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Names and biographies of the seven people who will likely lead the World Intellectual Property Organization secretariat under Director General Francis Gurry have been officially released on the WIPO website here [pdf]. Intellectual Property Watch reported on the new deputy and assistant directors general last week (IPW, WIPO, 28 May 2009), but the WIPO document […]
Advice To Obama On Global Health: Open Access 28/05/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With US health resources, a “wide gap remains between what can be done with existing knowledge and what is actually being done” says a new report by the National Academies Institute of Medicine, which is meant to advise the Obama administration’s health policy. Some activities that it said need more attention involve intellectual property rights. […]
Broadcasting Industry Makes Case For WIPO Treaty Revival 27/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment To kick off the World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee meeting this week, representatives primarily from the broadcasting industry gave their views on key developments in the field, and what that means for intellectual property protection. The overwhelming message was the revival of a strong call for a global policy solution to address cross-border challenges in the industry, though a few speakers included attention to the public interest.
Proponents See WTO Session On GI Register Ready For Substantive Talks 26/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An informal special session at the World Trade Organization on a register for geographical indications – product names associated with a particular place and characteristics – was nudged toward “substantive” talks last week, according to some participants.
Off The Agenda, Counterfeits Still Draw Attention At Health Assembly 23/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Counterfeit medicines were left off this year’s truncated World Health Assembly agenda but still managed to have an impact. The contentious, intellectual property-related issue arose during a discussion on the World Health Organization’s future plans, as several nations objected to a budget line referencing a programme to combat counterfeit drugs.
World Health Assembly Finds Way Forward On Pandemic Flu 22/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Responsibility to take forward a still in-progress framework to cope with global influenza pandemics is now in the hands of the World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan, member states agreed in a meeting Thursday. This was approved by the full World Health Assembly on Friday.