Year Ahead: Big IP Developments Loom For US Law In 2015 21/01/2015 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment 2014 brought major changes to the United States intellectual property system, particularly in the area of patent law. 2015 promises more of the same, as the new Supreme Court ruling in Teva Pharmaceuticals USA v. Sandoz attests. Here’s a discussion of Teva and other key cases and developments to watch this year.
WIPO Re:Search Celebrates 3 Years, Looks To The Future 20/01/2015 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Several years ago, the World Intellectual Property Organization set up a project aimed at helping bring together those with intellectual property rights and those with ideas for research to develop medical products for people in need. The project, WIPO Re:Search, has gathered numerous partners and is beginning to look ahead to its next phases, including the possible eventuality of drug development, according to the WIPO secretariat.
Year Ahead: Copyright Reform, EPO Governance, Trade Secrets Among Top European IP Issues In 2015 19/01/2015 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Review, and possibly reform, of the European Union copyright system tops the list of “hot” European intellectual property issues this year. The new European Commission has made modernising copyright rules a major priority, while fresh debate has broken out over the need for levies on digital copying devices to remunerate rights holders. Meanwhile ongoing unrest between European Patent Office (EPO) staff and management looks likely to continue, as do efforts to finalise the unitary European patent and Unified Patent Court. EU legislation to protect trade secrets could be adopted and trademark law updated. In addition, several important IP-related decisions are expected from the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
WHO Report: Access, Affordability Of Medicines Key To Reducing Non-Communicable Diseases 19/01/2015 by James Cote for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new report from the World Health Organization examines the Global action plan for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases 2013-2020 (known as the Global NCD Action Plan) and provides some “lessons learnt from implementation.” The report calls for urgent action by governments to stop the “epidemic” of cancer and mostly preventable diseases from sources like tobacco use, salt intake, physical inactivity, and high blood pressure. This includes ensuring treatment is available and affordable, it says.
The Latest News In Intellectual Property From ANEPI Ecuador 17/01/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Welcome to (ANEPI), the first Intellectual Property News Agency of Ecuador. The Agencia de Noticias Especializada en Propiedad Intelectual (ANEPI) publishes news, analysis, interviews, feature articles, a weekly update and more on Ecuador and the region, at http://www.anepi.ec. Articles are primarily in Spanish with some translation. Below is the list of the week’s stories on ANEPI, including in English: “Latin America, Patents, Innovation and Brands within the Intellectual Property System.” Bienvenido a (ANEPI), La Primera Agencia de Noticias de Propiedad Intelectual del Ecuador: Síguenos http://www.anepi.ec/ANEPIEcuador
Gilead To Appeal India Patent Rejection, Hails Regulatory Approval 16/01/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Pharmaceutical manufacturer Gilead has given its side to this week’s story of the rejection of its patent on a hepatitis C treatment in India, and it insists it will prevail in making its medicines available in India on its terms.
Report Looks At Open Access From Perspective Of Authors, Institutions, Publishers 15/01/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new industry report explores ways authors, research institutions and publishers are grappling with the increasing move toward open access mandates by governments.
Key Hepatitis C Patent Rejected In India 14/01/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 10 Comments Today’s rejection by the Patent Office Controller of India of a patent application by Gilead company for a key drug against hepatitis C is being hailed by advocates as a path to dramatically lower costs of treatment for the disease. Hepatitis C has been noteworthy for exorbitantly priced medicines over the past year. A look at the decision shows that a provision in India’s law continues to stop patent applications if they fail to show sufficient novelty and inventive step – and are subject to opposition.
WHO Executive Board To Address Reform, R&D Financing, Ebola, Budget 14/01/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The upcoming World Health Organization Executive Board annual January meeting will be 10 days. Included in the list of issues to be addressed are the engagement of the organisation with lobbyists and donors, antimicrobial resistance, and the potential establishment of a pooled fund of voluntary contributions for research and development for diseases primarily affecting developing countries.
Panels Look At Proposed EU, French Trade Secret Legislations 13/01/2015 by Magda Voltolini for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment PARIS – French government officials and industry representatives gathered here recently to debate proposed new rules to protect trade secrets against unlawful acquisition, use and disclosure.