WHO Executive Board Concludes After ‘Unpredecented’ Workload 30/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Assembly’s rotating Executive Board meets twice a year, and on 29 January concluded its 132nd meeting with what the WHO director general termed an “unprecedented” amount of agenda items and documents.
Potential Elements Of The WHO Global R&D Treaty: Tailoring Solutions For Disparate Contexts 29/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Prof. Ryan Abbott analyzes the key components of the WHO proposal for a Global R&D Treaty and their potential impact on public health. The article proposes strategies to convert parties currently opposing the treaty, and argues that a stratified limited market-exclusivity regime has the capacity for a meaningful impact.
WTO: Antigua To Retaliate Against US By Suspending IP Rights Protection 28/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments After years of unsuccessful negotiations between nations, the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body today gave Antigua and Barbuda the right to impose sanctions against the United States for blocking online gambling. The US was found in violation of WTO rules in 2007 and has failed to resolve the issue, so the Caribbean nation was given the right to retaliate in an area that is likely to force a US response – lifting US intellectual property rights.
WHO Board Approves Resolution On Neglected Diseases; Sets Action On Substandard Medicines 28/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The World Health Organization Executive Board today approved a modified resolution on neglected tropical diseases – after removing a reference to a working group on R&D for neglected diseases as “irrelevant”. The Board also discussed and took note of a report on poor quality medical products in the supply chain, and agreed to set another meeting on the issue before the May World Health Assembly, as well as set up a separate group on behaviours that lead to this problem.
Debate Erupts At WHO Over “Consensus” On Financing R&D For The Poor 28/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments World Health Organization members on Friday held a tense discussion over legal and political aspects of a consensus reached by a small number of member states in November on implementing a plan to address the global lack of research and development for neglected diseases predominantly afflicting poor populations. The discussion may continue today, with the linkage of an agenda item on neglected tropical diseases and the report of an expert working group offering numerous ideas for addressing the problem.
WHO Plan For Pandemic Flu Proceeds With Questions 28/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Health Organization has not completed negotiations with companies on a formula for contribute toward the new WHO framework for pandemic influenza. But companies are paying to access the virus anyway. In its meeting this week, the WHO Executive Board has addressed a range of issues such as pandemic influenza, but so far it has delayed discussion on another contentious topic: substandard/counterfeit medical products.
Tech Industry Report Finds Entertainment Industry Thriving Despite Complaints 27/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments A US technology industry report released Friday presents data showing that the entertainment industry has grown by 50 percent in the past decade with increased consumer spending, despite continuous calls by industry for greater protection of their intellectual property rights due to economic difficulty.
Governments Put WHO’s Independence At Heart Of Reform Debate 25/01/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Any employee who has been through a company reform knows that it can be an anxious and stressful period. The experience is no different for the 194 members of the World Health Organization representing their respective countries and the public health interests of their constituents. As the WHO Executive Board digs deep into the fundamental principles of organisational change, preserving the holy member-driven nature of the global public health authority has emerged as the most pressing priority.
IP Professionals Discuss Tech Transfer Potential In Humanitarian Business At WIPO 23/01/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A global business association held a meeting at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week on IP market developments, including increasing opportunities in technology transfer for commercial purposes. The intimate gathering featured a line-up of high-level speakers, including WIPO Director General Francis Gurry.
Google Report Shows Steady Rise In Government Surveillance 23/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment US internet giant Google has released a report showing a steady climb in government surveillance online, which a tech industry group called “disturbing”. The report, which covered from July through December of last year, includes more details than in the past, but does not include content takedowns, which now will be the subject of an upcoming separate report.