Fairness In Research Partnerships, Reporting System Presented At Geneva Health Forum 13/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Research collaborations between institutions in the North and institutions in the South often show a scientific and power imbalance. In the context of growing concerns about this issue, initiatives are being developed to increase fairness in research partnerships. In particular, the Research Fairness Initiative, providing a reporting system for institutions is gaining traction, according to speakers at the Geneva Health Forum this week.
Study: Global Consumption Of Antibiotics Rising, In Particular In LMICs; Policy Change Needed 12/04/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In the face of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, a recent study of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNSA) found that the antibiotic consumption rate in low and middle-income countries has substantially increased in recent years. At the same time, inequities in drug access persist in many countries, with high rates of infectious disease-related mortality, according to the study.
At Geneva Health Forum: Importance Of High Quality Of Health Systems, Beyond Access 11/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Achieving a high percentage of universal health coverage often does not translate into a high quality of health systems, according to speakers at the opening of the Geneva Health Forum. While in developed countries people are demanding better quality, the expectations of people living in low and middle-income countries need to be raised, they said. Another panel looked at the use of big data and mathematical modelling as ways to improve health systems, including Facebook monitoring.
Taiwan IP Office Moves Beyond Politics To Forge Links With Other IP Offices, Enforce IP Rights 10/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment TAIPEI, Taiwan — The building is impressive. Taiwan’s intellectual property office, located in the Dan-an district of Taipei, deals with patents, trademarks, designs, and utility models. Not being a recognised member of the United Nations, Taiwan cannot access the World Intellectual Property Organization treaties, in particular the Patent Cooperation Treaty. However, Taiwan is dedicated to enforcing IP rights, and entertains agreements with several IP offices in the world, including China, which is Taiwan’s major trading partner.
Special Feature: Blocking Taiwan From Joining WHO Affects Global Health Security, Officials Say 09/04/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment TAIPEI, Taiwan – Two years after the victory of Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan is feeling the effects of the DPP’s position against the “One China principle.” At the World Health Organization, China is allegedly successfully blocking Taiwan from participating in the annual World Health Assembly, and in a number of WHO technical meetings, officials say. Beyond the political dimension of the dissent between China and Taiwan, the situation may hurt the Taiwanese and global health security, Taiwanese officials said.
WIPO Director Briefs Ambassadors On Results, Outlook 29/03/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The director general of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization recently briefed ambassadors in Geneva on 2017 results and the outlook for the organisation and the IP field. Here’s a preliminary look at what they were told.
New Draft Text On Final Day Of WIPO Committee On Genetic Resources; Expert Group Proposed 23/03/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After the first suggested revision of potential treaty articles preventing the misappropriation of genetic resources was sent back to the drawing board this week, the second revision emerged today, for consideration by the World Intellectual Property Organization member states. Separately, a proposal by the committee chair to establish an expert group to meet prior to the next session of the committee meeting was positively received.
New Process, Mandatory Disclosure Stir Reactions In WIPO Committee On Genetic Resources 22/03/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A proposed revision of articles that could become a World Intellectual Property Organization instrument protecting against the misappropriation of genetic resources met with strong resistance from some developing countries, asking that the committee revert to the previous version of the text. Their concern is what they see as new issues and concepts introduced this week, mainly by the United States. The committee chair decided to start a new process.
Irrepressible Rise Of China In International Patent Applications, Developing Countries Lagging 21/03/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments If the United States remains the champion of international patent applications at the World Intellectual Property Organization, China is now on its heels, and knocked Japan off the second place in 2017, according to numbers provided by WIPO. Southeast Asia is now a strong source of international applications, while developing countries still stand as a poor relation of the intellectual property system, though some of them are progressing steadily.
Tentative New Wording For Draft WIPO Instrument Protecting Genetic Resources 21/03/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week started discussing core articles of what could potentially become a treaty preventing the misappropriation and the granting of intellectual property rights on genetic resources. Facilitators named by the chair of the WIPO committee addressing this issue produced a new tentative draft version of the objectives of such treaty.