Civil Society Calls On India To Backtrack On Policy Threatening Global HIV Response 21/07/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The International AIDS Society made a statement today at the International AIDS Conference in Durban, South Africa, voicing concerns about India’s recent policy which, according to the group, is threatening access to HIV treatment in India and around the world.
The Significance Of Uruguay’s Win Over Philip Morris International 21/07/2016 by Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments The tobacco industry’s global efforts to use bilateral and multilateral agreements to challenge the spread of tobacco control measures such as trademark-minimising plain packages were dealt a significant blow last week when the World Bank dispute settlement body dismissed a case brought by Philip Morris against the government of Uruguay. The decision is seen a landmark for those who view the company as using test cases to continually challenge and delay public health protection measures and discourage other countries, particularly those with fewer resources, from strengthening their health regulations. Additionally, the case reasserted that trademarks are subject to government regulations and also illustrated the role that international organisations and actors can play in support of national governments defending their health measures.
Blockstream’s New Patent Strategy: Trust Us, We Won’t Sue You 21/07/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Blockstream, which developed the blockchain technology and bitcoin, has announced a defensive patent strategy. The crux of it: assurance that users of its technology won’t be sued.
Free Trade Agreements Threaten Farmers’ Rights, Food Security, Group Says 21/07/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Small farmers around the world are threatened by new free trade agreements, a civil society group has argued. Those agreements go beyond the requirements of agreed international intellectual property rules and jeopardise the ability of small farmers to save, produce, and exchange seeds, the group said.
WHO Updates Patent Status Info For New Hepatitis C Medicines 20/07/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization has issued updated information on the patent status of hepatitis C medicines, including assessments of hurdles for affordable generic versions of latest drugs.
US Justice Department Nails Three In Mass Mailing Trademark Scam 20/07/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A Wells Fargo bank manager in California worked with two colleagues to conduct a scam targeting trademark holders and launder the proceeds, the United States Department of Justice said today.
AIDS Conference: Will The UN High-Level Panel Report Deliver R&D And Access To Medicines? 20/07/2016 by Munyaradzi Makoni for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment DURBAN, South Africa – The lessons derived from the history of AIDS treatment have become a rallying call for civil society organisations globally. Not being able to afford AIDS medicines should not be repeated for people with other diseases, including HIV co-infections, treatment activists told world leaders here.
UNCTAD14: Global Non-Tariff Measures Database Launched; Calls For Strengthened UNCTAD Heard 20/07/2016 by Fredrick Nzwili for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NAIROBI, Kenya (IP-Watch) — A global database on non-tariff measures (NTMs) has been launched here at the 14th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 14). Also this week the World Investment Forum kicked off, the first such event since agreement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
WHO: Countries Need To Step It Up On Noncommunicable Disease Commitments 19/07/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Despite “remarkable” progress by some countries on addressing noncommunicable diseases like cancer and diabetes, there is a need to accelerate efforts in order to meet agreed global commitments, the World Health Organization said this week.
Patenting By Universities Unhelpful, Paper Says; WIPO Programme To Be Reviewed 19/07/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A new publication analysing the relationship between intellectual property and access to science explores ways countries have developed to counter the potential barriers created by IP rights, and says patenting by universities is counterproductive.