TTIP: Alternative ISDS No Real Alternative, NGOs Warn 19/02/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Just days before the restart of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on 22 February in Brussels, a large coalition of non-governmental organisations led by the Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) published a critical report on new proposals for the highly debated investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanisms. The activists called the Investment Court System (ICS) prepared by EU Commissioner Malmstroem as an alternative a mere “ISDS zombie.”
Subscriber Alert: New Proposed Text For WIPO GR, TK Committee 18/02/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Today a new text was issued for the consideration of the WIPO committee on genetic resources and traditional knowledge. The text is a work in progress, according to the group of delegates tasked with proposing consensual language on a draft treaty text coming from previous meetings of the committee.
Climate Change Panel Seeks To Improve Communication, Open Doors To Private Sector 18/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change seeks to improve its communication to promote its reports, its chair said at a briefing yesterday. Working on its next assessment report expected to be released in five or six years, the IPCC seeks to increase participation of the private sector as a major stakeholders upon which depends the investment to find solutions to climate change he said.
EU Parliament Members Seek To Curb Antibiotics In Animals, Boost New Research 18/02/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In the fight against antimicrobial resistance, members of the European Parliament’s Environment and Public Health Committee have advocated banning collective and preventive antibiotic treatment of animals, and supported measures to stimulate research into new antibiotics, including longer data protection.
WHO Issues Strategy For Zika Global Response; US$56 Million Needed 17/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization today issued its strategic response framework and joint operations and research plan, which lays out a strategy until June, to investigate and respond to the medical complications linked to the spreading Zika virus.
FAO ‘Does Not Support Corporations’, Director General Says 17/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In response to the concerns about industry lobbying voiced by civil society recently at a symposium on agricultural biotechnologies, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) director general insists on the UN agency’s neutrality.
IFPMA Interview: Antimicrobial Resistance, Regulatory Systems High On Pharma Industry 2016 Agenda 17/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Priorities for the pharmaceutical industry in 2016 are antimicrobial resistance and the quest for new antibiotics, the strengthening of regulatory systems to facilitate access to drugs, and work on non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and cancer, according to the head of an international pharmaceutical industry group.
WIPO Members Debate Disclosure Of Origin For Genetic Resources In Patents 17/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members this week are discussing ways to protect genetic resources from misappropriation and ensure that those resources, when their access has been agreed – if exploited commercially – open up rights to the sharing of benefits from this exploitation. Negotiators yesterday discussed what type of instrument might be agreed, and debated a proposal to require disclosure of origin of genetic material.
Questions Over WIPO Statements At UN Secretary-General’s Panel On Access To Medicines 17/02/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, was unique among Geneva-based UN agencies for offering views at both recent meetings of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines held in Geneva and New York this month. Now WIPO has come under criticism from public health advocates for the views it gave.
Chair Of WIPO Committee On Genetic Resources Issues Draft Plan For The Week 15/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization committee working on policy solutions to protect genetic resources and traditional knowledge from misuse and misappropriation resumed its work today after a year hiatus. The newly elected chair, from Australia, issued an indicative methodology and programme for the week.