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.
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.
Russia’s Promising Combined Ebola Vaccine: Phase III Trials To Start In 2016 15/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova said today that two “highly effective” vaccines against Ebola have been developed over the course of 15 months in Russia. The combined vaccine GamEvac-Combi was presented during a briefing, with the two scientists who developed it, who own the intellectual property rights on the vaccines in Russia.
Serbia Eyes Trademark Opposition System, Appoints New Patent Office Head 15/02/2016 by Jaroslaw Adamowski for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Serbian government and parliament are currently drafting a new trademark law for the country which is to introduce the trademark opposition system into national IP legislation. Meanwhile, the cabinet of Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic recently appointed Vladimir Maric as the new acting director of Serbia’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO).
Changes Among IP Experts In Private Sector, Law Offices And More 12/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Movements at the World Economic Forum, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, along with changes in the academic and private sectors worlds marked the beginning of 2016. The early part of the new year has also brought some changes in the intellectual property divisions of law firms.
WHO Full Speed On Zika R&D, Two Candidate Vaccines Emerging; Funders, Journals Commit To Sharing Of Data 12/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In an update on research and development against the Zika virus, the World Health Organization today said several companies are working on diagnostic tools, and two candidate vaccines are being considered. Discussions are ongoing with countries to encourage sharing of samples of the virus with the WHO, and leading organisations and scientific journals signed a declaration yesterday on the sharing of data for public health emergencies.
Music Copyright 101: A Brief Rundown Of Legal Status In The United States 10/02/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment “The world of music rights is divided into two major segments: compositions and sound recordings,” said Kenneth Steinthal, partner, King & Spalding, San Francisco, who opened a panel at Yale Law School last week with a baseline understanding of music copyright. Steinthal gave a textbook rundown of the complicated status of music copyright that puts […]
Kenyan Musicians Escalate Fight For Royalties 10/02/2016 by Fredrick Nzwili for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — The battle for music royalties in Kenya has spurred musicians and artists to demand transparency and accountability in the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK), the body that collects and distributes the fees.
2016: UPOV Works To Improve Breeders’ Applications, Civil Society Calls For Alternative System 09/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Geneva-based International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) provides intellectual property rights protection for plant breeders. In 2016, the organisation is planning to work on systems to facilitate breeders’ applications for new varieties. Meanwhile, civil society is calling for ways to protect plant varieties other than through UPOV, which they see as hindering farmers’ rights.
The Zika Virus Challenge: Mapping A Policy Path To Vaccine Development 08/02/2016 by Priti Patnaik for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The lack of preparedness to counter the effects of Zika virus follows a familiar script – a virus known since 1947, but one that has no currently available vaccine or treatments, like many neglected tropical diseases. This case could be illustrative of the wider struggle to finance investments into neglected diseases, but may tell a different story given its rarity of occurrence. It also may demonstrate how the World Health Organization is re-emerging as the global leader on response to outbreaks.