Public Health And Patents Heat Up WIPO Debate On Harmonisation 08/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Discussions at an open forum last week on a possible harmonisation of international patent laws showed that countries do not only disagree on whether it would be useful or not but also have different expectations on what such a harmonisation would encompass. Judging from the at times sharp debate, the most contentious issue seems to […]
WIPO SPLT Forum Acknowledges Complexities Of Possible Harmonisation 08/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An open forum at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) explored the complexities of a possible worldwide harmonisation of patent rules in a mostly amicable environment. Work on harmonising the global patent system under a draft Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT) started at WIPO in 2001 and the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents […]
Groups Decry Impact Of IP And Health Terms In US Trade Agreements 03/03/2006 by Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch WASHINGTON, DC – Public health activists are condemning recent terms agreed to by Colombia, Peru and Central American countries in bilateral trade negotiations with the United States, that bind those countries to offer patent protections that exceed standards in multilateral agreements. The groups now are hoping for a […]
L’industrie se prépare à un deuxième « round » sur la directive de l’UE en matière de brevetabilité 22/02/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PRAGUE – Les groupes industriels pro-brevets, qui ont investi des sommes considérables pour influencer les débats au sein de l’Europe sur un projet de directive – finalement rejeté – en matière de brevetabilité des inventions mises en oeuvre par ordinateur, tirent des leçons de leurs erreurs et se préparent à une éventuelle reprise des négociations […]
Le Conseil de l’OMS propose un cadre en matière de recherche-développement à l’Assemblée mondiale de la Santé 13/02/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Fin janvier, le Conseil exécutif de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) a décidé de soumettre à l’Assemblée mondiale de la Santé un projet de résolution sur la nécessité de mettre au point des médicaments sûrs et peu coûteux contre les maladies qui touchent principalement les populations les plus pauvres du monde. À l’origine, le […]
UN Meeting Adopts Draft Global Regime On Use Of Genetic Resources 03/02/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment GRANADA, Spain – After intensive negotiations here this week, negotiators at a United Nations Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) conference adopted three draft documents recommending a new international regime for the use of genetic resources. The recommendations, if adopted by the signatory nations of the 1992 CBD, could enhance the rights of indigenous and local communities […]
Revised Biodiversity Draft Meets Strong Developed Country Opposition 02/02/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment GRANADA, Spain — A revised draft proposal for an international regime governing the use of genetic resources presented here on 2 February at a Convention on Biological Diversity negotiating session is meeting with strong opposition from developed countries. The new draft includes a proposal from Brazil on the disclosure of origin of genetic material in […]
Draft Of Global Regime On Genetic Resources Emerges At CBD 02/02/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment GRANADA, Spain – A draft version of international regulations on the use of genetic resources has been put forward by the chairwoman of a United Nations conference here. The draft was welcomed by developing countries and a few developed countries but met with deep scepticism from many developed countries, the pharmaceutical industry, and some inter-governmental […]
WHO Board Wrestles With IP And Public Health Report, R&D Proposal 27/01/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Executive Board of the World Health Organisation this week is struggling with how to proceed on issues of intellectual property rights, innovation and public health. The issues are being addressed by a special commission which failed to meet a mandate to present its report to the board this week. At the same time, two […]
CBD Meeting Focuses On Access To Genetic Resources, Benefit Sharing 26/01/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Member governments of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), meeting in Granada, Spain, have been urged by the secretariat to make progress next week on the development of a global regime on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing. This week, the members are discussing issues related to the protection and promotion of traditional […]