Internet Governance Forum Leader Joins ISOC 24/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Markus Kummer, the long-time Swiss diplomat who has headed the secretariat to the multistakeholder Internet Governance Forum, has become vice president for public policy at the Internet Society in Geneva. The IGF was an outgrowth of the 2003-2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Despite being forbidden from being a venue for real negotiations […]
WHO Future In Question; Debate Over Industry Representation 17/01/2011 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A seemingly overworked and impoverished World Health Organization opened its Executive Board session today with calls for reform amid deep concerns about its financial future. Meanwhile, dissension arose over an industry representative named by the WHO secretariat to a new research and development funding working group, sparking the WHO director general to cast doubt on the role of industry in such groups.
WTO Negotiators Draft Register For Geographical Indications 14/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In what the World Trade Organization is signalling as a breakthrough, negotiators have come up with a draft text for an international register of geographical indications for wines and spirits, or product names derived from places or special characteristics. The register was agreed to as part of the 2001 Doha Round of talks, but has […]
Lawmakers Backing Comcast-NBC Merger Were Paid By Comcast 13/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Comcast gave money to the vast majority of the 97 members of the US House of Representatives that signed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging approval of a merger between cable company Comcast and broadcaster NBC Universal, according to research. The 5 January letter, linked here [pdf] and circulated by nonprofit group Public […]
Report Shows IP Rightsholders Being Left Behind Online 12/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new private sector report shows that billions of visitors are going to websites selling products and services worldwide, but accentuates the fact that most of these visits involve transactions not controlled by the intellectual property rights owners.
WTO Plans Talks On Geographical Indications 11/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Trade Organization members are scheduled to meet this week to discuss a geographical indications register as part of the intensifying negotiations under the Doha Round.
EFF Examples Of Public Benefit Of Wikileaks 11/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Electronic Frontier Foundation has posted several examples of benefits to the public of disclosures of confidential documents by Wikileaks. Details here.
Roche Exec Takes Over At Medicines For Malaria Venture 06/01/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A top Swiss company executive on pandemic influenza and HIV/AIDS research took the reins of the Geneva-based Medicines for Malaria Venture this week, just weeks after MMV was given international organisation status by the Swiss government.
IP-Watch In Podcast On Patent Trolls + IP And Development 05/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual Property Watch Director and Editor-in-Chief William New recently participated in a podcast discussing IP and development, particularly at WIPO, and the latest on patent trolls around the world.
New Guide To TRIPS Health Provisions In FTAs 05/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new policy guide has been released that analyzes the public health effects of intellectual property rights provisions in bilateral trade agreements. The guide has a special focus on the Eastern Mediterranean region.