WIPO Members Embark On Busy Year Of IP Policymaking 17/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members this month approved a range of reports from WIPO negotiating committees and took note of changes within the UN agency. Now with the annual WIPO General Assemblies over, work has begun on a hefty policymaking work programme this autumn. Here’s a rundown of what’s coming.
Unpunished Human Rights Violations Challenge Right To Food, Activists Say 11/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Despite international frameworks and mechanisms to protect food security as a human right, a number of violations are committed in total impunity, according to the third edition of the “Right to Food and Nutrition Watch” issued today, this year with a focus on accountability issues.
South Africa: TK Legislation In The New Tradition 06/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments “Ex Africa semper aliquid novi”, which can be freely translated from Latin to mean “there is always something new coming out of Africa,” said Pliny, the ancient Roman writer and scholar. Presumably then, as is the case now, the concept of “new” included an expression of sarcasm and deprecation as in “absurd, nonsensical and ridiculous.” Well, Pliny has been proved right once again, writes Prof. Owen Dean.
As Bilateral Trade Deals Proceed, WIPO Hears Warnings, Calls For Change 04/10/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment As some developed countries prepared to ink a secret plurilateral trade agreement against rampant global piracy and counterfeiting in recent days, leading emerging economies and non-governmental groups warned the World Intellectual Property Organization that such outside agreements need to respect broader societal impacts of IP rights enforcement or risk abuses of international rules on trade and development.
Talk Of Treaties, Revenue Increase, Development As WIPO Annual Assemblies Kick Off 27/09/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The annual World Intellectual Property Organization meeting of member states kicked off yesterday with hope among participants that the next year could bring a return to positive revenues, a settling of internal dissension, and some of the first treaties at the UN agency in nearly 20 years.
Health Impact Fund – Raising Issues Of Distribution, IP Rights And Alliances 26/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment This piece raises several issues with the public health financing proposal called the Health Impact Fund. It questions the relative distribution of costs and benefits; the persistent issue of intellectual property rights; as well as a lack of alliance with existing efforts to increase innovation of and access to essential medicines for the poor.
Questions Arise Over UN Policy On Non-Communicable Diseases And IP Rights 16/09/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments United Nations members this month are setting the future course for global action against a rising public health problem well-known in developed countries and spreading to developing countries: noncommunicable diseases. But whether they will – or should – address concerns that intellectual property rights issues might interfere with access to treatments for such diseases as diabetes, cancer, or heart disease remains to be seen.
Experts Still Divided On Influence Of IP On Biodiversity Conservation 15/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment While the global loss of biodiversity is widely recognised, the question of whether the influence of intellectual property rights on the protection of biodiversity is positive or negative does not achieve such consensus. A discussion among specialists on 14 September showed that clear evidence is lacking about the impact of IP rights. Some said the IP system as it stands might be ill-fitted to answer the needs of this particular field.
South Africa Conference On IP And Innovation 14/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A conference being held in South Africa this week will address the sensitive topic of intellectual property and innovation in the developing country context. On hand will be a top team of developed country experts with a mix of Indian and Chinese specialists.
WTO Forum Looks At 21st Century Trade Challenges 13/09/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The theme of this year’s World Trade Organization Public Forum, to be held at the organization’s headquarters in Geneva from 19-21 September, is “Seeking Answers to Global Trade Challenges.” Recognizing the widening gap between existing trade rules and the realities of the 21st century, the forum focus is on ensuring that WTO policy keeps pace with today’s fast changing world.