Drug Safety Needs Global Cooperation Of Drug Regulators, Officials Say 19/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the eve of the World Health Assembly, the permanent mission of Brazil organised an informal meeting on sanitary regulation and how to improve cooperation among drug regulatory agencies. Major stakeholders were invited to present challenges and ongoing efforts to improve global quality, safety and efficacy of medical products.
International Standards Key To Helping The World With Many Issues, ISO Says 18/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment International standards can help economic, societal and environmental issues, Rob Steele, secretary general of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), told a press briefing this week. The organisation also has interests in intellectual property protection.
US Licensing Experts: Innovation Is Still Happening, Let’s Help It Along 18/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BOSTON – Early stage innovation is still strong in the United States, but parties need to work better together and address bottlenecks in the middle stages, a panel of university and private sector experts said this week. Meanwhile, the president of global biotechnology company Genzyme said the industry is not in crisis and the company is hopeful about its recent merger with Sanofi.
US Legal Academics Call For Congressional Review Of ACTA 18/05/2012 by Nancy Situ for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An open letter was sent yesterday from 50 American legal academics encouraging members of the United States Senate Finance Committee to exercise their Constitutional responsibility to ensure that the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is treated as a binding international agreement requiring legislative ratification and sent to Senate for approval.
South Africa Hopes New Bill Brings Traditional Knowledge Protection 17/05/2012 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill currently in the in-tray of South African President Jacob Zuma and awaiting a signature, holds the hope that it will finally pave the way for the protection of the country’s most famous red tea, Rooibos, as well as other local staples.
Singapore Builds Patent Capacity Ahead Of New System 17/05/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The tiny island state of Singapore has begun to ramp up its capacity for patent search and examination ahead of a bold move to adopt a new patent system, one of the proposed major amendments to its Patents Act. The Southeast Asian economic high-flyer is pressing for changes to its laws to position itself as an Asian hub for intellectual property.
After Sharp Concerns, Cooperation Prevails On UNCTAD’s Mandate For Next Four Years 16/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After the thirteenth quadrennial session of the United Nations body focusing on trade and development, which was to set its mandate for the next four years, delegates reached consensus and avoided major pitfalls, according to several developed and developing country sources. The governments also worked out differences on UNCTAD’s mandate for work on intellectual property rights.
15 Years Later, Prospects For WTO Information Technology Agreement Examined 15/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization this week celebrated 15 years of a tariff-cutting agreement on information technology products, and issued a publication charting the history of the agreement. Industry representatives invited to a symposium joined voices asking that the agreement be expanded, while some called for strategies to incorporate development into technology trade promotion. And a link was made between the agreement and a rise in patents on technology.
Agreement On Future Work For Development Committee Snatched From Defeat At WIPO 12/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In what could be compared to an obstacle course, World Intellectual Property Organization members agreed late at night yesterday on the future work of a committee working on the development dimension of the organisation’s activities.
DNDi Backs WHO ‘Neglected Patients’ R&D Treaty 11/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) has released a policy brief in support of the proposed R&D convention to be considered at the upcoming World Health Assembly.