Chances Diminish For Solution On TRIPS And Public Health Before Hong Kong 22/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Key officials in Geneva indicate that World Trade Organization members are not likely to find a compromise on a permanent amendment to global trade rules in order to allow poor countries to import affordable medicines in time for the December WTO ministerial in Hong Kong. There is no formal deadline for items to be included […]
UN Committee Adopts Position On IP And Human Rights 21/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A half-decade after it began, a United Nations committee on 21 November adopted a document intended to clarify nations’ responsibilities on intellectual property and human rights. The text, while not legally binding, could bolster legal disputes in other international and national bodies, committee members said afterward. The still-confidential adopted text, referred to as a General […]
Brazil Seeks Knowledge Access, Diversity In WIPO Broadcasting Treaty 18/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Brazil on 17 November proposed that the World Intellectual Property Organisation tie its draft treaty on broadcasters’ rights to a recently agreed treaty on cultural diversity that was seen as strengthening nations’ ability to control information flows across their borders. Meanwhile, a coalition of non-governmental organisations is preparing a statement recommending clarifications and limits on […]
Enforcement Declaration Lays Strategy For Co-operation, Legislation 17/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Lyon, France — The declaration that emerged from an international anti-piracy conference this week is a strong call for stepped-up efforts by industry and governments to bring about further protection of intellectual property rights, including greater powers for law enforcement and customs officials. The declaration, expected to be posted to the conference website, highlights strategies, […]
US Privatisation Plan For Open-Access Journal Challenged 16/11/2005 by Steve Gibb for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Steve Gibb for Intellectual Property Watch Washington, DC–A US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) plan to privatise a prestigious open-access environmental science journal is drawing criticism from Democrats in the US Congress and activists who say public funding provides key information in environmental debates. But some environmental science experts say the journal […]
Gilead Ends Patent Dispute With Roche Over Tamiflu 16/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The US biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences has ended its dispute with the Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche regarding the right to the anti-influenza drug, Tamiflu (oseltamivir) “in the interest of working together to address public health needs,” Gilead announced today. Tamiflu is widely sought for use against the potential spread of avian influenza in humans. The […]
Nigeria Calls For Convention Against Counterfeit Medicines 16/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Lyon, France—Calling counterfeit medicines a “form of terrorism against public health,” a senior Nigerian health official urged a 14-15 November international conference in Lyon, France to support the adoption of an international convention to fight the problem. “I urge this conference [to adopt an] an international convention on counterfeiting of pharmaceuticals,” said Dora Akunyili, director […]
WIPO Copyright Committee To Meet After Year-Long Hiatus 16/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The last time the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) copyright committee met it ended in acrimony, with still-bitter memories for some member governments who argued their objections to the outcome were wrongly ignored. But after a year and numerous regional consultations, many participants are looking ahead to an agenda laden with important policy items […]
US Industry Group Seeks To Shift Geneva IP Debate 15/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Citing a need to change the debate on intellectual property issues, another US trade association has added Geneva to its list of lobbying stops. The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) has expanded its presence in Europe in recent years mainly at the European Union level in Brussels. But now the group is turning its attention […]
Japan Proposes New IP Enforcement Treaty 15/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Lyon, France–Japan has proposed an international treaty to combat worldwide counterfeiting and piracy, complementing the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The proposal came at a 14-15 November conference near Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France, where the TRIPS agreement was characterised by some participants as a minimal pact lacking […]