European Commission Debates Neglected Disease Effort – Outside The IP System 09/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen BRUSSELS – When the European Commission’s plan to include neglected diseases in its next research programme was debated at a conference here, intellectual property rights played a rather small role. This is a good sign, the Commission said, but some participants disagreed. The 8-9 November international conference on neglected infectious […]
Margaret Chan Of Hong Kong Chosen As Next WHO Director General 08/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Margaret Chan of Hong Kong (China) has been elected the next director general of the World Health Organization by a large majority of member governments, according to sources. “It is not a surprise that Chan was chosen but with such a big margin – that is a surprise,” a source […]
Developed Country Strategy On WIPO Development Agenda, Governance Revealed 07/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen and William New The report from a September meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) developed country group reveals its behind-the-scenes strategy for handling a proposed development agenda at WIPO. The WIPO General Assembly decided in October to extend the discussions on a proposal for a development agenda, which […]
WHO Short-lists Five Candidates For Director General Post 06/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a short list of five candidates for the post of director general, sources said. The list includes: China, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico and Spain. A number of sources have indicated to Intellectual Property Watch that the candidates who are most likely to replace Lee […]
Developed Countries Speed Up Patent Harmonisation Outside WIPO 06/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen With the United Nations negotiations on harmonising international patent law in deadlock, a group of developed countries has agreed on a basis for its internal discussion, according to a draft meeting report. The group’s plan involves three steps and represents a breakthrough 18 months after they began discussions, it said. […]
Developed Countries Discuss Biodiversity IP Proposal At WTO; Peru Calls For Global Regime 01/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen At a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting, Switzerland questioned an earlier proposal by Norway to link WTO intellectual property rules with the protection of biodiversity. But Peru, as one of the demanders of such a scheme, said it is highly needed. The 25-26 October meeting was a regular session […]
Seminar: Smaller Drug Companies May Have Niche Role In Neglected Diseases 31/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen There may be a market advantage for small and medium-sized pharmaceutical enterprises (SMEs) in focusing on diseases prevalent in developing countries that are neglected by larger companies, according to a recent seminar. The seminar was held by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in cooperation with a United Kingdom-based free-market […]
Un rapport incite les États-Unis à demander à l’OMS une révision de sa politique de publication 30/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen À Washington, un haut fonctionnaire américain de la santé publique invite instamment le président de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé à retirer une publication commanditée par l’OMS qui se montre critique envers la politique commerciale des États-Unis. Le haut fonctionnaire accuse l’Organisation d’une éventuelle incompétence organisationnelle et demande une révision […]
WHO Online Consultations On IP Working Group Begin Next Week 27/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment [Editor’s Note: This story was modified shortly after publication to reflect the WHO reply on meeting participation.] By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The World Health Organization (WHO) has set the dates for online consultations on the working group on public health, innovation and intellectual property from 1 to 15 November, it said today. “WHO encourages […]
WTO TRIPS Council Stumbles Over Inclusion Of Enforcement 27/10/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen A meeting of the World Trade Organization committee responsible for intellectual property rights this week erupted in disagreement over how to address enforcement of those rights in the committee. The debate in the 25-26 October meeting of the WTO Council for the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights […]