Industry, Intergovernmental Organizations Launch Global Anti-Piracy Blitz 31/01/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Multinational companies have long complained about cheap, dangerous knock-offs of their products undermining their profits and reputation, but in a two-day annual high-level gathering along with key intergovernmental organisations this week, they have taken the anti-piracy and counterfeiting campaign to new heights. Industry and the organisations have seized upon ties to organised […]
Global Industry Leaders Cite Survey In Quest For A Counterfeit/Piracy-Free World 30/01/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Catherine Saez Counterfeiting and piracy are inflicting an uncomfortable bite on profits for businesses and tax revenues for states, and also raise health and safety risks, say businesses and governments. The global business community is determined to fight back through The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and its striking arm launched in 2005: BASCAP […]
WHO Members Agree On Need To Improve IP And Public Health Process 30/01/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen At last week’s meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board, member states expressed dismay with the process of a public health and intellectual property working group and agreed that the spirit they set out with had to be re-found. WHO responded that activities will be stepped up before […]
NGOs, Industry Differ On WHO IP, Innovation, Public Health Project 30/01/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Non-governmental participants have different opinions about how a World Health Organization (WHO) working group set up to boost research and development into neglected diseases, should best move forward. While some argue that intellectual property rights play a major part, others say it has nothing to do with it. The Intergovernmental […]
Piracy, Innovation Top Developed-Country Industry Priority List 26/01/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Companies from the wealthiest nations continue to view a clampdown on theft of their intellectual property rights as key to improving their economic performance, and are targeting the largest developing countries in their effort. To their aid comes the World Intellectual Property Organization and others, with a conference next week in Geneva […]
Midem: Window Of Opportunity Closing For Digital Rights Management 25/01/2007 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch CANNES – The entertainment industry may have made too many mistakes for digital rights management to become the main model of remuneration in digital sales business models, said experts at the music fair Midem this week in Cannes and its “policy sister” MidemNet Forum last weekend. Paul Brindley, […]
Questions Loom For WIPO Broadcasting Negotiation 23/01/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New With one meeting left before a decision at the World Intellectual Property Organization to proceed with formal negotiations on a treaty boosting the rights of broadcasters and cablecasters, the prospects are unclear, according to officials. The WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights met from 17 to 19 January but struggled […]
Updating Chinese Traditional Medicine Policy Proves Problematic 19/01/2007 by Jia Hepeng for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Jia Hepeng for Intellectual Property Watch BEIJING – The revision of a long-controversial rule on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is stranded amidst heated debates. While the government-led revision committee is analysing its stipulations for future implementation, some experts say the stagnancy is largely a result of the gap between the modern patent system and […]
Report Assesses IP NGOs’ Impact On Developing Country Negotiators 17/01/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Catherine Saez Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are important players in intellectual property policy debates but should be aware of limitations and potential improvements to their influence with developing countries, according to a new report from the United Kingdom. NGOs working on intellectual property issues have had a considerable impact on the debate in multilateral institutions […]
Interview With Howard Zucker, Senior WHO Official On IP 15/01/2007 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment [Please note: This interview has been republished to clarify the transcription.] Howard Alan Zucker, assistant director general of health technology and pharmaceuticals at the World Health Organization, is among other things in charge of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (referred to as “IGWG”), which was set up by the […]