World Health Assembly: Groups Seek To Return Focus To ‘Broken’ Medical R&D System 24/05/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch and William New Leave a Comment The issue of access to medicines is on the agenda at this week’s World Health Assembly (WHA) and public health advocates are seeking greater clarity and detail about the latest member state effort to address failings in the global system of research and development for medical products.
World Health Assembly: Draft Of NCD Action Plan Shows Compromises On IPRs 23/05/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Negotiators worked late last night to reach some compromise on the intellectual property-related component of the emerging World Health Organization action plan on noncommunicable diseases.
Infojustice: Trans-Pacific Partnership IP Chapter Stalled 20/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Infojustice.org reports from the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations in Lima, Peru that the intellectual property chapter shows no sign of resolution and the end of the TPP talks in 2013 is now highly unlikely.
WHO Director Highlights Non-Communicable Diseases, Pandemics; Blasts Industry Counter-Efforts 20/05/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan today had strong messages for the opening day of the annual World Health Assembly: in these rocky times, public health work is a high ground that helps bring security and development, and if you are not doing all you can to advance global health for all, then you are part of the problem. She took a swipe at mega-industries – especially tobacco and junk food – that produce and market unhealthy products and spend heavily to work against effective public health policies.
WIPO Group To Consider Substantive Amendment To Patent Cooperation Treaty 18/05/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the agenda of the normally technical World Intellectual Property Organization working group on the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) next week is a proposal for an amendment that would incorporate the bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) used by some countries into the PCT. This has stirred concern among countries that are currently outside the PPH system.
WTO Makes It Official: Azevedo Takes Over 1 September 14/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization General Council today gave final approval to the appointment of Brazilian Amb. Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo as the next director general of the WTO. He will take over from Pascal Lamy on 1 September for a four-year term.
WTO Announces Next Step For Azevedo To Become New Director 08/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization today announced that the three facilitators charged with consulting WTO members have recommended Brazilian Amb. Roberto Carvalho de Azevêdo become its next director general.
Cuba Files WTO Dispute Against Australia Over Tobacco Plain-Packaging 06/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Cuba has joined several other World Trade Organization members in filing a dispute settlement case against Australia over its new rules requiring tobacco products to be sold in plain packages. The measure was instituted this year as a means of reducing use of tobacco products.
Petition Fights Proposal For Digital Rights Management In Internet Core 03/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Just days after the celebration of 20 years of an open WorldWideWeb, more than two dozen advocacy group are circulating a petition to prevent the World Wide Web Consortium from accepting a proposal to allow restrictive new copyright measures on the key technology for accessing the internet.
Shippers Becoming Anti-Counterfeiting Target; Europe Takes Other Measures 03/05/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Istanbul – Counterfeiters are using legitimate supply chains, and shipping companies are unknowingly allowing it and need to take steps to crack down, rights holders’ representatives said at a recent anti-counterfeiting conference. Meanwhile, Europe is undertaking a study of the benefits of IP-intensive industries, and new customs and protection measures.