Biggest Developing Countries Present TRIPS Amendment Proposal 07/06/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The world’s largest developing countries are seeking an amendment to international trade rules to provide more protection for genetic resources and traditional knowledge used in patent applications, and have presented the amendment proposal to other governments with mixed results. Brazil, India and China are among the eight countries that have publicly supported the proposal to […]
Brazil Fights To Make Case For International Biodiversity Protection 31/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Brazil has arguably the earth’s richest source of biological diversity, and it is fighting to get help at the international level to protect those natural resources from what it says is unfair exploitation through patents by companies and others in and outside Brazil. While industry argues that the Brazilian law regulating the use of genetic […]
World Health Assembly Adopts Milestone R&D Resolution 27/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Health Assembly today agreed to establish an intergovernmental group to develop a global plan on research and development for diseases predominantly affecting developing countries. The agreement reflects a bridging of significant gaps between parties on the issue a few weeks ago. The resolution was adopted in 90 seconds with no debate, a developed […]
World Health Assembly Adopts Resolution Tying Public Health To Trade Policy 27/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Assembly today adopted a resolution that urges member states to improve coordination at the national level between international trade and public health, requesting the World Health Organization (WHO) to help its member states to do this. The resolution calls for governments to promote a better dialogue on trade and health, and gives […]
Agreement Reached On IP And Public Health Resolution At WHO 27/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A technical group at the World Health Assembly today agreed on a resolution that will increase the worldwide research and development focus on diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries. Brazil and Kenya, which have been driving the issue, welcomed the resolution, which is expected to be adopted tomorrow, 27 May. The text of the resolution […]
World Health Assembly Debates New Draft Text Merging IP Resolutions 25/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen and William New A drafting group at the UN World Health Assembly today suggested a possible merger of two key intellectual property resolutions, including the establishment a global strategy and plan of action for research into diseases disproportionately affecting poor countries with action to be taken possibly within a year. […]
Health Assembly To Begin Talks On IP Resolutions Thursday Under Time Constraints 25/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen and William New A technical committee of the World Health Assembly on 24 May decided to wait until the next day to set up a short-term working group on two draft intellectual property resolutions, which put in question whether the assembly will run out of time on these issues before […]
NGOs See Possibilities For New Health R&D Framework 24/05/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A key question among delegates, lobbyists and activists tracking intellectual property-related resolutions at this week’s World Health Assembly is what a proposed new research and development framework would look like. The assembly is addressing two intellectual property-related resolutions aimed at finding ways to improve research and development for treatments of diseases in poor countries. It […]
OECD Considers Entering Into Patent Harmonisation Debate 24/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment MADRID – At a recent conference here on patents and research it was suggested that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) would be a good forum in which to discuss certain aspects of the patent harmonisation process that so far has taken place at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The 18-19 May […]
Négociations laborieuses pour le Plan de travail du Comité de l’OMPI sur les savoirs traditionnels et les ressources génétiques 24/05/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par William New et Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Les négociateurs chargés d’examiner les propositions relatives à la protection des savoirs traditionnels, des expressions culturelles traditionnelles (folklore) et des ressources génétiques se sont achoppés à la question de savoir s’il fallait ou non débattre d’un éventuel texte juridiquement contraignant avant d’avoir terminé les travaux sur les […]