WHO Report On Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Now Available 11/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization secretariat has released its report to the executive board meeting on pandemic influenza preparedness. A framework for handling outbreaks of potentially pandemic influenza was approved in May this year, but outstanding – and critical – elements of the framework remained unfinished.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Negotiators Dodging Roadblocks 10/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment How to handle work between meetings on creating a “legal instrument” caused a stalemate in informal negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge committee this evening. Unable to reach agreement on the composition and activities of the group, delegates have put the negotiations on hold and will reconvene informally tomorrow (Friday) morning.
Draft Copenhagen Text On IP Issues Now Available 10/12/2009 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch and Catherine Saez Leave a Comment COPENHAGEN – A new draft climate change text on development and transfer of technology, obtained by Intellectual Property Watch and available to subscribers, was issued and under discussion at COP15 this afternoon.
Confidential Documents From WHO R&D Finance Group, Industry, Raise Concern 09/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments Confidential documents related to the World Health Organization Expert Working Group on innovative financing for research and development surfaced today, revealing the group’s thinking as well as pharmaceutical industry thinking about the WHO process. The documents immediately raised concern about possible undue access to the process by industry, but the WHO told Intellectual Property Watch the industry group was not supposed to have them.
IP Issues May Go To ‘Higher Political Level’ In Copenhagen Amid Difficulties 09/12/2009 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments COPENHAGEN – While intellectual property rights has been ‘the elephant in the room’ in the climate change negotiations so far, officials predict that it could become the subject of heated negotiations – even at a higher political level – during the ongoing high-level meeting in Copenhagen. On the third day of the meeting, IP issues had already appeared in a proposed negotiation text.
Industry Intellectual Property Enforcers Named To New Posts 08/12/2009 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) today announced the appointment of a new director of intellectual property and trade, effective 7 December. Meanwhile, in the United States, new coordinator for IP enforcement has been cleared.
Mismatch On Traditional Knowledge Treaty Text, Negotiating Sessions At WIPO 08/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (IGC) at the World Intellectual Property Organization began its first meeting under a newly-minted mandate yesterday, though it seems matters of procedure may again take up much of the space for discussions, according to several delegates.
WHO Neglected Disease R&D Finance Group Nears Recommendations 07/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments An expert working group on innovative financing for research and development, meeting under the auspices of the World Health Organization, held its third and final meeting last week, with a report from the secretive group expected to be released to member states in the coming weeks, according to sources.
Microsoft Drafts Consumers In Fight Against Software Piracy: Carrot And Stick 06/12/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment US software giant Microsoft said Thursday that users globally have started to join the fight against software piracy by sending in over 150,000 reports about problems with fake Microsoft products over the last two years.
EU Patent Regime Approved: Includes EU Patents Court, EU Patent, Coordination 04/12/2009 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment European Union governments have unanimously approved a roadmap for a single European patent regime. The system is seen as key to making patenting less expensive and more efficient for European inventors, but the devil, as always, is in the details, stakeholders say.