UNCTAD Review Of Bangladesh Calls For Drug Market Opening 01/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An investment policy review undertaken by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) found that Bangladesh needs to attract foreign direct investment to sustain its development and suggests that the country loosen its grip on the pharmaceutical sector. Bangladesh said the review will be carefully considered.
What’s Next For Patent Trolls After US Supreme Court? More Risk, For Sure 30/04/2014 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Supreme Court yesterday issued two rulings that were bad news for patent assertion entities, or “patent trolls”. Thanks to these decisions, trolls and other patentees could be on the hook for millions in fees whenever they bring frivolous patent infringement suits.
Antigua Questions Efficacy Of WTO Dispute System Over IP-Related Case 26/04/2014 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments Can the World Trade Organization’s smallest members use the dispute settlement system effectively? That is a question that seemed to be suggested by the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda at a WTO Dispute Settlement Body meeting yesterday, in an intellectual property-related case involving a United States gambling ban.
UN Climate Change Report Assesses Options For Technology And IP Policy 25/04/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The latest United Nations report on climate change offers advice for international and national intellectual property policies relating to climate change mitigation technology. Although strong IP rights may foster green technology development and transfer in developed countries, there is a lack of evidence to support IP strengthening in developing countries, it concludes.
US Supreme Court Hears High Stakes Aereo Copyright Case 23/04/2014 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a contentious copyright suit that could affect the continued viability of broadcast television, cable TV, and cloud-storage services like DropBox, Box and Apple’s iCloud. And it is far from clear how the court will rule in American Broadcasting Companies v. Aereo, Inc.
Panel Looks At Public Hospitals And Innovation 22/04/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Public institutions often appear as lagging behind the private sector in innovation, especially in medical and healthcare science. But for the past decade, numerous international projects in public hospitals have included innovation as a driving force in their overall strategy development, according to speakers at a recent panel.
Geneva Health Forum Meets To Discuss Solutions To Common Problems 11/04/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Geneva Health Forum (GHF), taking place on 15-17 April in Geneva, will discuss the theme “Global Health: Interconnected Challenges, Integrated Solutions.” This year’s forum aims to encourage an “integrative approach” to global health, “which better captures the underlying causes of ill-health and recognises the commonalities that underlie people’s health around the world,” says GHF.
Global Fund And Tiered Medicines Pricing Under Debate 07/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has launched an initiative with other agencies aimed at expanding global access to health products such as medicines. But the Fund has had some explaining to do about the initiative, which some say could encompass a plan to allow different prices based on national income levels.
2014 LES International Conference In Moscow 07/04/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The 2014 LES International Conference “Make the World Better through Licensing” will be held on 18-21 May in Moscow at The World Trade Center Moscow. It will be a unique IP event combining both a professionally interesting and productive program and the richest social entertainment, according to the organisers. Among the participants are: Russian & foreign businessmen, financial officers, investors, scientists, patent & trademark attorneys and lawyers. The conference program will include six general sessions and 23 workshops. Both Russian and International experts will cover most current IP and related issues such as: BRICS & CIS countries as Emerging Markets; International Access to Technologies; Business & Legal Aspects of IP; IP in healthcare/biotechnology, aerospace, car industry, green technology, power engineering, sport, information technologies. Confirmed speakers are from: Russian Innovation Center “Skolkovo”, Johnson & Johnson, Canon, L’Oreal, Tatneft, Sony Europe, Siemens AG, Porsche AG, LG Chemical, Philips, Novartis, TATA Technologies, GlaxoSmithKline, Boeing, Yandex and many others. For more information and to register visit http://les2014.org/
MPP Drug Licensing Deal Brings Hope For Greater Access To HIV Treatments 04/04/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) this week announced two new licencing agreements with the private sector joint venture ViiV Healthcare that will increase access to a new antiretroviral in countries hardest hit by HIV.