MakaPads Helping Disadvantaged Girls And Women In Uganda 13/03/2014 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments KAMPALA – In the western terrains of Uganda, in a refugee camp, Dr. Moses Kizza Musaazi invented and is running a simple but ingenious scheme. Making environmentally friendly sanitary pads out of papyrus reeds. The pads, MakaPads sanitary pads, are the only trademarked biodegradable sanitary pads made in Africa. Dr. Musaazi developed the idea and technique while looking for a way to help school-going girls.
EU Parliament Passes Call Against Surveillance And For Digital “New Deal”; TTIP Can Proceed 12/03/2014 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A huge majority of the European Parliament today called for a stop to mass surveillance and a digital “New Deal” to enpower European citizens and companies following a six-month inquiry into the US National Security Agency (NSA) and other intelligence service surveillance programmes by the Parliamen’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
WTO-WIPO IP Training Course For Governments 12/03/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization and World Intellectual Property Organization are jointly offering a course this week on all aspects of intellectual property to a group of officials from developing countries and countries in transition, the WTO has said.
“Shame On You” – EU Parliament Pressured On Vote Over Surveillance 11/03/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the eve of European Parliament’s final decision on consequences from revelations of mass surveillance directed against citizens, several members of the Parliament heavily criticised EU governments for the lack of action.
US To Hold Forum On Copyright Notice And Takedown System 10/03/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A United States government agency later this month will hold the first meeting of a multistakeholder forum on improving the operation of the widespread notice and takedown system for removing infringing content from the internet.
Final UN Report On Right To Food Calls For Redesign Of World Food System 10/03/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In a final report before the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) today, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food called for a redesigned world food system to ensure the human right to adequate food and freedom from hunger. This includes some changes to the way intellectual property rights apply to food and agriculture.
With A “Clean Slate,” WIPO Director Nominee Gurry Looks Ahead 06/03/2014 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Incumbent Francis Gurry of Australia today was nominated to be the director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization until 2020, with WIPO members to make their final decision on 8 May. In his return to office, Gurry told reporters today he wants to focus on the digital marketplace, improving the organisation’s performance, changing geopolitics, and to steer journalists away from writing about allegations of wrongdoing at WIPO.
Gurry Wins Committee Vote For Next Director General Of WIPO 06/03/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments After a bumpy road, the director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization today was recommended by the WIPO Coordination Committee to be returned to office for another six-year term.
WIPO Director General Election: Down To Three Candidates 06/03/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization members this morning held a first round of voting for the director general candidate to lead the UN organisation for the next six years. The top three candidates, from Australia, Nigeria and Panama, will advance to the second round to be held this afternoon.
WIPO Enforcement Committee: Positive Sharing Of Experiences But Future Work Elusive 06/03/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After two-and-a-half days of non-stop information sharing on ways to build respect for intellectual property and enforce IP rights, members of the World Intellectual Property Organization could not agree on the future agenda of the committee on enforcement.