Big Pharmaceutical Firms Say MDGs Partnerships Are ‘Best-Kept Secret’ 27/09/2013 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK – The vast collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry, government and civil society is perhaps “one of the best-kept secrets of our industry,” the head of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) said this week, stressing the need for even more cooperating heading into the post-2015 development agenda at the United Nations.
Development Agenda At WIPO: Still Waiting For Cultural Change 26/09/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Progress on mainstreaming a development dimension into all World Intellectual Property Organization activities and its assessment by a dedicated committee has been called into question by developing countries concerned that the mandatory effort has slipped in importance.
WIPO Approves 15 New Observers, Including DNDi, COHRED; Pirate Parties Rejected 25/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Member governments of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization today approved 15 new observers to the organisation, including three international organisations, and a range of nongovernmental organisations such as two significant public health-oriented groups. But two groups were rejected, including the high-profile Pirate Parties International. Separately, the member governments of the important WIPO Program and Budget Committee were also announced today.
Innovators Take Centre Stage At WIPO Members’ Annual Assembly 25/09/2013 by Alessandro Marongiu for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In the context of a parallel event to the World Intellectual Property Organization annual General Assemblies, innovators from developed and developing countries shared their thoughts on how to foster a creative environment that encourages ground-breaking innovations.
Indonesia Becomes Fifth To File WTO Case Against Australia Tobacco Plain-Packaging 22/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Indonesia has become the fifth country to initiate dispute settlement procedures at the World Trade Organization challenging an Australian public health law requiring tobacco products to be sold in plain packages as a way to discourage their use.
Meeting Highlights Use Of Open Data In Science, Health And Sustainable Development 18/09/2013 by Alessandro Marongiu for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At the end of a two-day conference in Switzerland, open knowledge experts emphasised the role of open data in strengthening science findings’ credibility, fostering medical research and enhancing sustainable development.
Paper Looks At Human Rights Side Of IP And Medicines Access 17/09/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report released by the Yale Global Health Justice Partnership looks at the use of human rights to improve access to medicines by reducing the barriers that intellectual property laws create to such access.
WHO Now Charging Fees For Drug Prequalification, Raising Access Fears 10/09/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization, the United Nations health agency in persistent financial straits, has announced it must begin charging a fee to manufacturers seeking prequalification of their vaccines and diagnostics. The announcement stirred concern among public health advocates that it might have a negative effect for procurement and access to life-saving medicines.
New Draft South African IP Policy Receives Initial Positive Reactions 09/09/2013 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The civil society collective formed to pressure the South African government to reform its patent act has cautiously welcomed the release of the country’s draft intellectual property policy.
Survey: US Health Agency Should Use Patent Rights To Keep Drugs Affordable 29/08/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A new survey supports the argument of public health advocates that pharmaceuticals resulting from government-funded research in the United States should be no more expensive than in other similar countries, and that patent rights should be used to make it so.