WHO Group To Discuss Plan For Industry Use Of Pandemic Flu Viruses 02/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A closed-door working group under the World Health Organization will meet next week to continue working out details of a plan for companies to pay for the right to use influenza virus strains to potentially develop patented treatments.
WIPO Members Get Stopgap Deal On IP And Development, Others Down To The Wire 02/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The membership of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization in its celebrated annual General Assembly have spent most of the last few days in informal small groups behind closed doors, trying to reach agreements on issues that seem simple but for them, go to the heart of the organisation’s functioning.
WIPO “Theatre”: Supporters, Critics Of WIPO Administration Face Off 01/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The inner workings of United Nations agencies can be very complicated, with clashes of cultures and management styles and any number of pressures. The case of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization appears to be a particular example in this respect.
WTO Public Forum On Innovation Opens With Hope For New Ideas 01/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Innovation holds a centre stage at the World Trade Organization Public Forum this year. During the opening plenary today, the WTO director general said the organisation needs updating. And some participants said international trade is at a crossroads, with much to gain or lose.
What The US Government Shutdown Means For Patents 01/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States Congress’ failure to pass a budget for the government by the end of the fiscal year on 30 September, which led to today’s shutdown, will have a variety of effects on the patent process, according to a new article.
EU Hearing: War Against Whistleblowers, War Against Journalists, War Against Democracy 01/10/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Former US National Security Agency and British MI5 employees urged the European Parliament yesterday to push for better better democratic oversight over secret services and better protection of whistleblowers. Nothing less than the sovereignty of states and of citizens are at stake, warned former NSA official Thomas Drake.
WIPO Staff Urge Opposition To Changes To Internal Justice System At WIPO 29/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments As many as 300 members of the staff of the World Intellectual Property Organization have supported a petition urging the WIPO director general to withdraw a proposed amendment to the internal justice system at the UN agency, according to informed sources. The petition calls on WIPO member states to reject the proposed changes.
WIPO Members Reach Tentative Deal On TK Treaties; External Offices Mired 27/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Intellectual Property Organization members this evening reached a hard-won preliminary agreement on a path to a high-level negotiation of treaties or other instruments for the protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources. The tentative deal, reached in informal meetings, creates an intensive work programme for the next year and a final decision in September 2014. The plan will have to go before the full WIPO membership in plenary as soon as Monday.
After Marrakesh, WIPO Copyright Committee Eyes Next Treaties 27/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The future work of the World Intellectual Property Organization on copyright policy after the success of the treaty to facilitate access to special format works for visually impaired people last June in Marrakesh is subject to controversy this week at the General Assembly of the Organisation. The committee still has three potential treaties brewing and priorities have to be decided upon. As of last night, the issue remained open, joining a set of others left to informal consultations.
Development Agenda At WIPO: Still Waiting For Cultural Change 26/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Progress on mainstreaming a development dimension into all World Intellectual Property Organization activities and its assessment by a dedicated committee has been called into question by developing countries concerned that the mandatory effort has slipped in importance.