New CBD Head: IPR Still Key To Nagoya Protocol On Access And Benefit-Sharing 10/07/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NEW DELHI – The “Nagoya Protocol,” an international agreement struck in the Japanese town of Nagoya in October 2010, has nearly 100 signatory countries, and is a major talking point in the international discourse on biodiversity. But ratification by the governments of these countries remains painfully slow, and the process towards it fraught with daunting challenges, as was evident last week during a key inter-governmental meeting in the Indian capital New Delhi. In an interview with Intellectual Property Watch, the new head of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity had much to say about intellectual property rights.
Rio+20 Climate Talks Finish With Little IP; Flexibilities Under Fire 25/06/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments RIO DE JANEIRO – Many of the technologies that can make the world more sustainable are available today. But how to transfer such green technologies to those most in need of them remains a question on which there are starkly divergent views – even after last week’s much-anticipated Rio+20 leaders’ summit.
Rio+20 Conference Opens With IP, Tech Transfer, Underlying Debate 18/06/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments As world leaders along with thousands of government, private sector and nonprofit participants, get ready to meet in Rio de Janeiro this week, 20 years after this Brazilian city hosted the historic first Earth Summit, there are fears that there may be no meaningful consensus on how the world can become more liveable and sustainable at the same time. And technology transfer, research and development, intellectual property rights are part of the debate.
India’s Generics-Big Pharma Battle Drops Drug Prices, Raises Legal Debate 20/05/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 11 Comments The escalating battle between Big Pharma and India’s generic drug manufacturers is pushing down medicine prices in one of the world’s fastest growing pharmaceutical markets.