Report On Seed Giants’ Initiatives To Preserve Monopoly On Global Food 08/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A report released yesterday by the non-profit ETC Group claims that six companies are seeking to control current priorities and the future direction of agricultural research. According to the report, giant seed companies are launching initiatives to preserve their IP rights and deflate antitrust concerns.
WTO: Wide Support For LDC TRIPS Extension, With A Hitch 06/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property rights met this week and addressed a request by least developed countries for an extension of the period to enforce WTO intellectual property rules. LDCs want that the extension be extinguishable only after a country ceases to be considered as ‘least developed’, which developing countries largely supported. Developed countries, however, were hesitant about the terms of the proposed extension.
Academics Criticise Handling Of Cultural Diversity, Traditional Knowledge At International Level 06/03/2013 by Tiphaine Nunzia Caulier for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments At a recent conference jointly organised by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID, Geneva) and the Museum of Art and History of Geneva, academics tackled the question of the preservation of culture – in its natural and cultural dimension – against the risks of globalisation.
Bayer Will Appeal India Compulsory Licence On Its Cancer Drug 05/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments German pharmaceutical manufacturer Bayer has announced it will appeal yesterday’s ruling in India that upheld a compulsory licence on one of its drugs.
India’s First Compulsory Licence Upheld, But Legal Fights Likely To Continue 04/03/2013 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments New Delhi – India’s Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) today upheld the country’s first compulsory licence on a pharmaceutical product. The much-awaited verdict by Justice (Ms) Prabha Sridevan upholds the compulsory licence issued to Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma Ltd, an Indian generic drug manufacturer, which sells a much cheaper version of German pharmaceutical company Bayer AG’s kidney and liver cancer drug Nexavar in the market.
Should Industry Support LDCs’ Request For Unlimited Time To Implement The TRIPS Agreement? Absolutely 04/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Nick Ashton-Hart writes: Some of you may have noticed that the ICT sector trade association that I represent in Geneva, the Computer and Communication Industry Association (CCIA), has endorsed a bid by the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) to remove any specific deadline for full compliance with the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.
Patent Pool-ViiV Collaboration On Paediatric HIV Sparks Reactions, Hope 04/03/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Medicines Patent Pool has announced a ground-breaking collaboration with a private sector joint venture that it said will facilitate greater availability of critical medicines for children with HIV worldwide. The announcement caused a wave of positive reactions across the public health community, with many hoping for more in the future.
Global Fund Launches New Funding Model 01/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, based in Geneva, has announced a new funding model that aims to allow for more strategic investment.
Speakers Outline Ideas For Africa To Find Appropriate IP Policies 01/03/2013 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments Johannesburg, South Africa – Africa is still held captive by colonial borders and has failed to collectively leverage benefit-sharing agreements that result from multinationals’commercial pursuit of indigenous knowledge, said speakers at the Africa IP conference this week.
South Africa Leaning Toward Support Of Pan-African IP Office, Minister Says 28/02/2013 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Johannesburg – There are strong indications that South Africa may join – and lead the charge – in the establishment of the controversial Pan-African Intellectual Property Office (PAIPO).