Intergovernmental South Centre Bolsters Its IP Programme 20/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The South Centre, a Geneva-based intergovernmental organisation, is gearing up its work on intellectual property by launching a new programme on innovation, access to knowledge and intellectual property. The centre says it already sees the results of the programme in developing countries’ increased involvement in IP, including at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The […]
Las disposiciones sobre propiedad intelectual y salud de los tratados comerciales de Estados Unidos son blanco de críticas 19/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Martin Vaughan para Intellectual Property Watch WASHINGTON, DC – Activistas de la salud pública han condenado las condiciones acordadas recientemente por Colombia, Perú y países de Centroamérica en las negociaciones comerciales bilaterales con Estados Unidos. Estas condiciones obligan a los países latinoamericanos a ofrecer una protección por patente que excede las normas establecidas en […]
No Progress In WTO GI Extension Talks, Next Steps Unclear 13/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Officials holding consultations at the World Trade Organization today on whether geographical indication (GI) protection for wines and spirits should be extended to other products completed a list of questions on the issue, but made no progress on bridging differences. The next steps are now unclear as the overall WTO negotiations deadline of July is […]
Disclosure Of Origin A Hot Topic In WIPO Patent Harmonisation Debate 11/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Nations debating whether to harmonise national patent systems have turned their focus to developing country demands to include requirements that patent filers disclose the origin of genetic material and traditional knowledge. The debate is taking place in a 10-12 April informal meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee on the Law of Patents […]
India Proposes Combined WIPO Meetings On Biodiversity, Patent Harmonisation 10/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment India today floated a suggestion for joint meetings of two key committees at the World Intellectual Property Organization in a move that could change the way patents are addressed. The proposal could elevate biodiversity issues of concern to developing countries to the level of patent issues critical to developed countries. India said that the issue […]
Decision On International Regime On Genetic Resources Postponed Until 2010 04/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Discussions on an international regime on the sharing of benefits deriving from genetic resources at a recent United Nations conference in Brazil focused mainly on procedure, leading some sources to argue that developed countries tried to derail the process. The final deadline for a decision has been pushed back to 2010. The meeting was the […]
WHO IP Report Comprehensive, But No Calls For Major Change In IP System 03/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A much-anticipated World Health Organization (WHO) report by a special commission looking at the relationship between intellectual property rights and research and development into diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries, makes some 50 recommendations on how to improve the situation. The 228-page report of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) stops […]
Patent On AIDS Drug Will Not Limit Access In India, Industry Argues 30/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It is “misleading” and “counter-productive” to assert that a pharmaceutical company’s filing for a patent on a HIV/AIDS drug in India will limit access to the drug in the future, GlaxoSmithKline said in response to an objection submitted today in India. The comment is a response to the submission of a “pre-grant opposition” to the […]
Protest Submitted To First Patent Filing Of HIV/AIDS Drug In India 30/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Two Indian HIV/AIDS networks and an international group of lawyers today submitted a protest to the first application for a patent for an HIV/AIDS drug filed in India. The opportunity to stage a “pre-grant opposition” is the “beauty of the Indian patent system,” said Ellen ‘t Hoen of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in an interview. […]
Potential WIPO Reform Discussed At Consumer Conference 22/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment BRUSSELS – A consumer-led conference on intellectual property touched on a wide range of issues during its second day, from whether the $9 physical production costs of CDs are saved through digital distribution, to what would be an ideal reform of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Antony Taubman, who heads the traditional knowledge division […]