Health Systems, Collaboration, Research Funding Before Innovation, Speakers Say 23/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The fight against epidemics cannot only rely on innovation, according to speakers at an event organised by the pharmaceutical industry alongside the annual World Health Assembly’s opening day. Strong health systems, collaboration of all stakeholders, preventive measures, and the ability to fund research are prerequisite to innovation, they said.
WHO Director Advocates Strong Health Systems, Warns Against Profit-Oriented Mechanisms 23/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Health Assembly opened today with World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan repeating that this year has a record number of agenda items and over 3,000 participants. She slapped at profit-seeking mechanisms leading to “slow-motion disasters,” which put economic interests above concerns about well-being. In particular, she underlined the lack of research and development for antimicrobial treatments and the rise of chronic non-communicable diseases.
WIPO Copyright Committee In Freewheel Mode; Conversation Continues 17/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment It is difficult to understand whether the prospect of a treaty protecting rights of broadcasters is getting nearer or farther away at the World Intellectual Property Organization, as some countries are still calling for a diplomatic conference to finish the treaty, while others are saying agreement on core issues such as what and who the treaty should protect seems elusive. And the committee discussion of copyright exceptions and limitations was nourished by non-governmental entities explaining the need for those exceptions.
Tech4Dev Conference: Translating Innovation Into Social Impact 11/05/2016 by Mara Pillinger for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment New technologies are of limited value if they are not accessible. Thus the crucial challenge lies not only in promoting innovation, but in translating innovation into social impact. This was the theme of the fourth Conference on Technologies for Development (“Tech4Dev”).
As Patients Wait, WHO Members Chip Away At Decision On Medical R&D Funding 09/05/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments A number of World Health Organization member states attended a meeting last week aimed finding ways to sustainably finance research and development for medical products, especially those for poor populations lacking means to pay high prices. According to the outcome document and a WHO official, they heard many viewpoints from experts and made progress but much was left for the World Health Assembly later this month.
Africa Should Speed Formation Of Pan-African IP Body, UN Report Says 05/05/2016 by Maina Waruru for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NAIROBI, KENYA — A recent report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is calling for faster establishment of a Pan-African Intellectual Property Organisation (PAIPO) to bring about what it sees as badly needed IP policy coherence on the continent.
WSIS Forum: Support For General Assembly Decisions On Internet Governance 03/05/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Support from information and communication technology for implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 is the programmatic topic of the first post-WSIS+10 edition of the World Summit Information Society Forum (WSIS Forum), taking place this week.
MSF Issues In-Depth Report On R&D And Drug Prices 02/05/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctor Without Borders) today announced a report detailing what it calls failings in the current system for developing new drugs in ways that all patients can afford and access, and providing proposed policy options for addressing the problems.
Plant Variety Protection To Meet Food Security Plant Treaty, But Where Are Farmers’ Rights? 28/04/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A planned symposium to identify potential interrelations between the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), and the United Nations International Plant Treaty is raising concerns from civil society about farmers’ rights.
Why We Celebrated World Intellectual Property Day 2016 27/04/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Corey Salsberg writes: Yesterday was World Intellectual Property Day. April 26 is the day we celebrate and call attention to the global intellectual property (IP) system. Why do we set aside a day for the entire world to stop and reflect on a subject that, for many, may seem more at home in board rooms, lecture halls, and legislatures, than in cafes, farms, and internet blogs?