IPR Remains Among Top USTR Priorities For China In 2014 07/01/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Office of the United States Trade Representative will again make intellectual property rights a top priority in trade relations with China in 2014, and will not hesitate to take actions such as to bring World Trade Organization dispute settlement cases as needed, USTR has said.
Critical Moment For Africa’s Small Farmers As ARIPO Decides On Plant Variety Protection 28/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) this week was expected to consider a proposal to move toward a biotechnology-friendly future, but small farmers say the current proposal will damage their ability to exist in the those countries.
USTR Says Its TPP Proposal On IP And Public Health Shows Flexibility 28/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) yesterday issued a statement on the status of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement talks on intellectual property rights and public health, suggesting that it has put forward new ideas on the issue. The statement is worded to reflect that USTR has heard the concerns of other governments and of public health advocates, but it’s unclear if those groups will accept it.
Farmers’ Groups Warn ARIPO About Implementing UPOV 91 In Africa 30/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A collective civil society group has raised concerns about a draft Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) plant variety protection law, which is based on the 1991 version of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). The draft law, which may come up for adoption in November, would criminalise farmers’ rights and undermine the seed systems in Africa, they said.
Farmers’ Rights At Heart Of Plant Breeding IP Debate; UPOV Ponders New Members, Communication Strategy 29/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The international organisation providing and promoting intellectual property protection for new plant varieties held the annual meeting of its governing body last week. New member requests were examined while civil society warned against a draft African legal framework on plant variety protection that they said could impact the dominant subsistence farming systems in some African states.
UPOV Holds Weeklong Meetings As Civil Society Publishes Restricted Documents 22/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments This week the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) is holding the annual meeting of its governing body, and preparatory meetings leading up to it. A seminar also is being held on essentially derived varieties. Meanwhile, civil society is asking that all the meeting documents be held public while demonstrating that restricted documents can be obtained through national freedom of information rights.
WHO Fine-Tuning Pandemic Flu Preparedness Strategy, Use Of Industry Contributions 11/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization is putting the finishing touches on an implementation plan for industry’s financial participation in the global influenza preparedness strategy. This week the advisory group met to discuss a draft plan presented by the WHO secretariat, which should now come up with a revised version for implementation in early 2014, according to the chair of the advisory group.
Perplexed About International Policy On GR, TK and TCEs? Here’s A Book 08/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Two scientists with a connection to Geneva have published an unorthodox e-book entitled, Guide for the perplexed entering the Maze of Genetic Resources Traditional Knowledge and Folklore.
Industry Says IP Key In Technology Dissemination; Others Call For More African Innovation 07/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A panel of industry representatives presented their views at the World Trade Organization on the diffusion of innovation, calling intellectual property rights key to the process. Meanwhile, another panel looked at innovation as a growth strategy for the global South.
US Patent On Selection Of Genetic Traits For Babies Fires Controversy 04/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A newly awarded patent on a process allowing parents to choose genetic traits from prospective donors for their children is creating a buzz in the United States and beyond.