Broad Plan On IP, Innovation In Developing Countries Approved At WHO 22/05/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Applause broke out at the annual World Health Assembly Friday as agreement was reached at the end of a five-year process to devise a plan for boosting research and development on and access to drugs needed by developing countries. Now with the full assembly’s approval, the focus will turn to implementation and as-yet unclear ways to pay for it.
WHO Members Near Deal On IP, Innovation And Public Health, With Key Question 21/05/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Some five years after setting a mandate to address barriers faced by poor countries in accessing needed medicines, World Health Organization members are near agreement on a strategy and plan of action. But a key question remains on WHO involvement in a possible treaty on biomedical research and development for diseases disproportionately affecting developing nations, and the WHO secretariat is facing accusations that the process has not been amply inclusive.
US Patent Reform Prospects Unclear; First-To-File Questioned 18/05/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Patent reform may be chugging along in the United States Congress, but so far, with the Senate soon to be consumed with what could be a contentious Supreme Court nomination fight, and with President Obama still lacking a new director of the US Patent and Trademark Office, some are questioning whether reform will actually happen this year. In addition, a key “first-to-file” provision in the US bill to harmonise with other countries may be more appearance than substance.
WHO Members Fail To Finish Pandemic Flu Preparations 18/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A series of meetings intended to set out a global framework for dealing with a potential pandemic completed its last session Saturday night with progress made but several essential issues still uncompleted.
WTO’s Lamy Continues Engagement On Intellectual Property Issues 14/05/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy continues to be engaged on intellectual property issues as WTO members begin to revive broader trade negotiations. This week Lamy hosted the heads of the World Intellectual Property Organization and World Health Organization together, and then chaired a consultation with ambassadors on proposals to amend WTO rules on intellectual property and trade.
EPO Looks To Future Technologies, 2010 Leadership Change 08/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments PRAGUE – The current revolution in science and information was the topic of this year’s European Patent Forum, which brought together examiners, lawyers, policymakers and other patent professionals to discuss how the pace of the patent system can mesh with today’s whirlwind of technological change. Meanwhile, European Patent Office (EPO) President Alison Brimelow informed her staff that she will “not be seeking extension” when her current three-year contract is up at the end of June 2010.
Greenidge To Step Down As Director Of IFPMA 01/05/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Alicia Greenidge, director general of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), has stepped down from the post.
IP And Sustainable Technology Debate Centres On Access And Benefit-Sharing 23/04/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and Catherine Saez 2 Comments As the need to protect the global environment grows, questions are being raised about how intellectual property might help incentivise the development of the right kinds of technology and its transfer to places that need it most.
Farmers, Politicians, Free Software Fans Demonstrate Against Patents 18/04/2009 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Farmers’ associations, environmental, aid and development organisations together with anti-patent activists of the free software movement met this week for one of the largest anti-patent rallies in Munich.
Officials Working Informally Toward May Consensus On Avian Flu Preparedness 08/04/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An informal meeting last week brought together interested parties from different regional groups, as well as representatives from vaccine manufacturers, as a part of a process to resolve contentious issues on pandemic influenza preparedness remaining from the last formal meeting in December.