WHO Plan For Pandemic Flu Proceeds With Questions 28/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Health Organization has not completed negotiations with companies on a formula for contribute toward the new WHO framework for pandemic influenza. But companies are paying to access the virus anyway. In its meeting this week, the WHO Executive Board has addressed a range of issues such as pandemic influenza, but so far it has delayed discussion on another contentious topic: substandard/counterfeit medical products.
Governments Put WHO’s Independence At Heart Of Reform Debate 25/01/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Any employee who has been through a company reform knows that it can be an anxious and stressful period. The experience is no different for the 194 members of the World Health Organization representing their respective countries and the public health interests of their constituents. As the WHO Executive Board digs deep into the fundamental principles of organisational change, preserving the holy member-driven nature of the global public health authority has emerged as the most pressing priority.
IP Professionals Discuss Tech Transfer Potential In Humanitarian Business At WIPO 23/01/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A global business association held a meeting at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week on IP market developments, including increasing opportunities in technology transfer for commercial purposes. The intimate gathering featured a line-up of high-level speakers, including WIPO Director General Francis Gurry.
UNITAID Seeks Bids For ‘Freedom To Operate’ IPR Analyses For HIV Products 22/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment UNITAID, the drug purchasing facility affiliated with the World Health Organization, sees “great promise” in emerging diagnostic products for HIV treatment monitoring and diagnosis in remote regions. Now it is looking for someone to verify the freedom to operate of these tools, ensuring they are not intellectual property-encumbered.
2013: India Battles For Right To Use Compulsory Licences To Make Medicines Affordable 22/01/2013 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment India has started the New Year on a volatile note. With general elections looming in 2014, there is turbulence and not just in the political world. In India’s pharmaceutical industry, there is sparring over the prickly issue of ‘compulsory licenses’, a mechanism by which a government allows a domestic company to manufacture and sell a generic version of a patented drug without the consent of the patent-holder, who receives compensation.
Free Drugs Are “Crucial Part” Of Neglected Tropical Disease Fight 16/01/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Health Organization reports that unprecedented progress has been made in addressing 17 parasitic diseases affecting the world’s poorest populations. The public health authority attributes the gains, in large part, to the contributions of global partners, including drug contributions made by research-based pharmaceutical giants.
IP-Watch Looks At The Year Ahead In International IP Policy 09/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment What will 2013 bring for international intellectual property and innovation policy? In the coming Intellectual Property Watch series for subscribers, our expert writers take a look at the top global policy issues and events in copyright, public health, legal battles, food security/biotech/biodiversity, trade, development, internet governance and more.
Collaborative Capacity Building In Intellectual Property — Leveraging On African Diaspora Exchange 02/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Depending on where one locates its advent, contemporary globalization is now more than half a century old. It might be asked whether globalization has been beneficial to Africa. One quick and easy way of addressing this often asked question is to cursorily look at the regional dynamics of over half century of globalization. And this leads to an urgent call for “homeland-Diaspora” intellectual property training, says Prof. Chidi Oguamanam.
At WIPO, A Complex Fight Against Counterfeiting, Piracy 21/12/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The fight against counterfeiting and piracy is at the heart of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on enforcement, a non-negotiating body. In a meeting of the committee this week, delegates heard expert presentations on ways to tackle infringement and measure its impact. However, the smooth discussions were disrupted by considerations of the future work of the committee.
WIPO Treaty For Blind Negotiation Set For Mid-June In Marrakesh 19/12/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After successfully agreeing to convene a high-level meeting in June to adopt a treaty creating copyright exceptions in the favour of visually impaired people, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates yesterday worked on modalities of the upcoming diplomatic conference.