Climate Change Panel Seeks To Improve Communication, Open Doors To Private Sector 18/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change seeks to improve its communication to promote its reports, its chair said at a briefing yesterday. Working on its next assessment report expected to be released in five or six years, the IPCC seeks to increase participation of the private sector as a major stakeholders upon which depends the investment to find solutions to climate change he said.
Questions Over WIPO Statements At UN Secretary-General’s Panel On Access To Medicines 17/02/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, was unique among Geneva-based UN agencies for offering views at both recent meetings of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines held in Geneva and New York this month. Now WIPO has come under criticism from public health advocates for the views it gave.
President Obama Sends Two WIPO Copyright Treaties To US Senate For Ratification 10/02/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Today, United States President Barack Obama sent two signed multilateral copyright treaties negotiated at the World Intellectual Property Organization to the US Senate for ratification.
Vision, Urgency Of UN High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines Begins To Take Shape 05/02/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments NEW YORK — It came as a surprise to some when the United Nations Secretary General’s office announced in November the setting up of a high level panel to urgently address access to medicines and other health technologies. After all, UN agencies in Geneva, most notably the World Health Organization, have been working on these issues for years. Yesterday at the UN in New York, an event was held to explain some of the vision and urgency behind the setting up of the panel, which includes an expert committee of representatives of some 10 international organisations and others. It also includes an open online call for contributed ideas until 18 February, and two public hearings.
200 Companies, Organisations Worldwide Promote Stronger Encryption 04/02/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Nearly 200 organisations, companies and others from 42 countries have signed an open letter to the international community demanding that stronger encryption tools be allowed to be developed and used. The letter describes encryption tools and services as vital components of maintaining a secure digital environment, where if users are allowed to use the strongest forms of encryption it can allow for the safest and most efficient ways to communicate across borders.
Wired – UNICEF Invests $9m In ‘Open Source’ Tech To Save Children’s Lives 03/02/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations will fund 60 startups to create open source technologies to improve the lives of children in developing countries. Unicef, the children’s charity run by the UN, will channel more than $9 million into startups based on venture capital-style investing. But it isn’t concerned if the companies fail.
European Data Protection Officers On Privacy Shield Announcement: Please Send Text! 03/02/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A day after the European Commission announced an agreement with US authorities for a “Privacy Shield” as a follow-up mechanism for the invalidated Safe Harbour Agreement, the Article 29 Working Party of European Union data protection officers said they need to see the written text before making their final assessment.
The Conversation – Netflix’s VPN Ban Proves We Need To Develop A Global, Legal Digital Marketplace 03/02/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In mid-January, Netflix announced a ban on the use of proxies, unblockers, and virtual private networks (VPNs)—all technical work-arounds to view movies and TV programs unavailable in the subscriber’s country. This announcement coincided with the company’s global service launch into more than 130 new markets.
Last Chance Meeting To Agree On How WHO Engages With Non-Government Actors In April 02/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization members last week agreed to meet for a final session in April to discuss the framework regulating the engagement of the organisation with “non-state actors,” such as non-governmental and philanthropy organisations, and the private sector.
Special Feature: UN High Level Panel On Access To Medicines – First Reactions, Process Explained 01/02/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments A high level panel of experts charged by United Nations secretary general to explore solutions to increase innovation and access to medicines in developing countries gave a briefing today to explain the process of the initiative. Intellectual property is often seen as both a barrier to the diffusion of health technologies and an innovation enabler.