US Food And Drug Administration Issues Equivalence Guideline For Biosimilars Producers 05/01/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Biotherapeutic medicines are made out of living organisms and cannot be replicated. No generic medicines, which are exact copies of the reference product, can be made. The generic equivalent of a biotherapeutic would be biosimilars, which are highly similar products. The United States Food and Drug Administration has issued a guide to help producers to prove how close their biosimilars are to the biotherapeutics.
Group Finds Discrepancies In Implementation Of Nagoya Protocol Between EU, Providers 15/12/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report by two civil society groups explores what they say are discrepancies between European Union and provider country laws implementing the Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources, which they say could lead to legal uncertainties for users and providers.
UN Study: GIs Could Open New Markets For Poor Countries If Financing, Training Provided 12/12/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new study by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) finds that geographical indications could open the way to lucrative export markets for least-developed countries. The study calls for UN agencies to support those countries in their effort to develop GIs and diversify their exports, but warns about the need for capacity building and financial help, and raises biodiversity concerns of GI intensification.
Support IP-Watch: An Appeal To Readers 06/12/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Intellectual Property Watch needs your financial support. As one of our readers, you know that IP-Watch plays a vital role in international policymaking on intellectual property and innovation through its independent, reliable, balanced and dedicated news coverage. But like other online news services around the world, the challenges of financial sustainability are high. Please help […]
Non-Corporate Entities Join Forces Against Adoption Of Plant Breeders’ Rights Regulations In Africa 02/12/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, civil society, and farmers’ representatives have raised serious concerns on the upcoming adoption of draft regulations of a protocol protecting breeders’ rights in Africa. Civil society groups and farmers’ representatives have been blocked from participating in the meeting expected to adopt the regulations, according to them. The Special Rapporteur is calling for a halt to the process, and for starting again with a more transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based process.
UN Names New Head Of Convention On Biological Diversity 02/12/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Cristiana Paşca Palmer of Romania has been named executive secretary of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
New Draft Articles For The Protection Of Traditional Knowledge On Table At WIPO 30/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment New draft articles published this morning at the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge show signs of progress in terms of reducing options. Meanwhile, the United States introduced a proposal for a discussion of what should be protectable and what is not intended to be protected. Delegates have to deliver their take on both documents this afternoon.
FAO Postpones New Director For Office In Geneva 29/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) today announced the postponement of the assumption of duties of the person appointed to become the new director of the FAO liaison office in Geneva. The postponement comes after the government of Peru raised concerns that FAO’s appointment of former Peruvian first lady Nadine Heredia Alarcón interferes with a government investigation of corruption and money-laundering against her.
Panel Explores Relation Between Plant Breeders’ Convention And Plant Treaty 16/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment When countries belong to several international instruments, some aspects of those instruments may run contradictory to one another. A symposium held recently by the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) sought to explore the interrelations between the convention and the international treaty on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. Farmers’ rights lie at the intersection of the two treaties and while some find the treaties complementary, some others view them as contradictory on farmers’ rights. Meanwhile, farmers themselves have been blocked from participating in deliberations.
Countries Asked To Revise IP Laws Preventing Implementation Of Farmers’ Rights 15/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A global consultation on farmers’ rights recently co-organised by Indonesia and Norway provided recommendations to the international plant treaty, calling for the establishment of an ad hoc working group on farmers’ rights. They also recommended that contracting parties of the treaty revise their intellectual property laws and other legislation that may create obstacles for the realisation of farmers’ rights.