WIPO Members Reach Tentative Deal On TK Treaties; External Offices Mired 27/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization members this evening reached a hard-won preliminary agreement on a path to a high-level negotiation of treaties or other instruments for the protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources. The tentative deal, reached in informal meetings, creates an intensive work programme for the next year and a final decision in September 2014. The plan will have to go before the full WIPO membership in plenary as soon as Monday.
Big Pharmaceutical Firms Say MDGs Partnerships Are ‘Best-Kept Secret’ 27/09/2013 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK – The vast collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry, government and civil society is perhaps “one of the best-kept secrets of our industry,” the head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) said this week, stressing the need for even more cooperating heading into the post-2015 development agenda at the United Nations.
Development Agenda At WIPO: Still Waiting For Cultural Change 26/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Progress on mainstreaming a development dimension into all World Intellectual Property Organization activities and its assessment by a dedicated committee has been called into question by developing countries concerned that the mandatory effort has slipped in importance.
US Ambassador: WIPO Needs More Balance Toward Rightsholders 26/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This week, US Ambassador to the UN Betty King told Intellectual Property Watch that WIPO is still out of balance – against intellectual property rights holders.
Swift Start On WIPO General Assembly Agenda But Sticky Issues Kept For Later 26/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Agenda items appeared to move swiftly in the first days of this week’s World Intellectual Property Organization annual assembly, but tricky issues are being left for later and actively discussed in informal consultations. Examples of ongoing discussions are the programme and budget discussion, governance of the organisation, and the definition of development expenditures under the budget.
WIPO Approves 15 New Observers, Including DNDi, COHRED; Pirate Parties Rejected 25/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Member governments of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization today approved 15 new observers to the organisation, including three international organisations, and a range of nongovernmental organisations such as two significant public health-oriented groups. But two groups were rejected, including the high-profile Pirate Parties International. Separately, the member governments of the important WIPO Program and Budget Committee were also announced today.
Innovators Take Centre Stage At WIPO Members’ Annual Assembly 25/09/2013 by Alessandro Marongiu for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In the context of a parallel event to the World Intellectual Property Organization annual General Assemblies, innovators from developed and developing countries shared their thoughts on how to foster a creative environment that encourages ground-breaking innovations.
Urgent Need To Shift Away From Industrial Agriculture, Says UN Agency 25/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A recent report by a United Nations agency calls for an urgent shift of paradigm in agricultural development.
UN Office of Human Rights Commissioner Seminar On Right To Enjoy Benefits Of Scientific Progress 24/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will hold a seminar on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications in Geneva next week.
WIPO General Assembly Opens With Loaded Agenda 23/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization annual General Assembly opened today with an unusual number of issues for delegates to solve, in particular those inherited from the committee in charge of approving the budget and the programmes of the organisation earlier in the month. Among pressing issues are WIPO external offices and decisions to be made on potential treaties such as on industrial designs, the protection of broadcasting organisations, and the protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.