Future Scenarios, IP Tax Evasion, Informal Sector, And Patents In Africa 13/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – A conference here on intellectual property, innovation and the public interest included a look at different possible futures for Africa, global IP tax evasion schemes, a discussion of the strong informal sector, and some views on the relative weakness of patent quality on the continent.
The EU-Thailand FTA: What Fate For Access To Medicines? 12/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Following the public outcry over the EU’s demands for stringent intellectual property rules that would dramatically raise medicines prices in India, you would expect the EU to think twice about making similar demands in future trade agreements, particularly with low- and middle-income countries. Yet, this is precisely what is going on now in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Thailand, writes Tessel Mellema.
WIPO Members Progress, But New Offices, Design Treaty Still Unresolved 12/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After adopting the 2014-2015 program and budget yesterday, World Intellectual Property Organization member countries yesterday agreed on some pending issues but so far have not got agreement on principles for future WIPO offices worldwide nor a commitment to finish a treaty on the international registration of industrial designs.
Convergence Of Who’s Who In IP, Innovation, Public Interest In Africa 12/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Academics, advocates, lawyers, government officials and others meeting this week have heard of the launch of several new books and research tools to better understand the relationship of intellectual property, development and social issues. In particular, discussion in the early part of the conference focussed on a book revealing evidence from extensive primary research on the ground in 13 countries across the continent.
Cape Town Conference Highlights Innovation, IP And Public Interest 08/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Some 350 experts from around the world are gathering here this week to discuss intellectual property rights and innovation as they relate to the public interest.
Experts At WHO Select Eight Projects To Boost Medical R&D For Developing Countries 06/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A group of experts summoned to select projects presenting innovative ways to foster research and development of medical products for diseases primarily affecting developing countries at the World Health Organization this week finished their work and selected eight projects out of 22. Civil society was quick to express concern that the selected projects do not propose a new way forward. Now WHO member states must narrow the list down further.
Yemen Accedes To WTO; Outcry Over Tough TRIPS Deadline 04/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment At the World Trade Organization Ministerial in Bali, Indonesia today, Yemen was accepted as a new least-developed country member. Its terms for joining included adoption of full intellectual property trade rules by 2016, which more than 160 civil society groups worldwide said is in contravention of last summer’s agreement to extend the period for LDCs to adopt such rules to 2021 or later.
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.
BRICS Launch Their Own Plan For IP Cooperation; India Defends Itself 27/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Developing countries have been under pressure for years to join the global intellectual property system established by developed countries, and they have been doing so gradually. But now the leading emerging economies have taken matters into their own hands and signed an IP cooperation roadmap among themselves that will boost their uptake of IP in a way that is most favourable to them.
Global Patent Harmonisation Proceeding Outside WIPO – And Gently Within 25/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For years, the developed countries that own the vast majority of the world’s patents – and therefore pay the majority of the revenues of the World Intellectual Property Organization – have looked unsuccessfully for a way to increase harmonisation of the global patent system through the UN agency. Developed countries have moved forward on their own, while WIPO is taking a gentle approach, encouraging member states “look below the headline issue” to a more “granular” level.