Australian Tobacco Law May Head To WTO Dispute As TRIPS Council Meets 28/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization committee responsible for intellectual property issues today is meeting to address its usual list of topics with two recent additions of international interest. Countries negotiating the embattled Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and a country opposed to Australia’s public health law on tobacco packaging have added these to the agenda. Sources at the meeting say opponents of the tobacco law may be near to filing a dispute settlement case at the WTO.
The Pulse Of IP In International Pharma Today 24/02/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment High-level policymakers, industry leaders, law professors and other stakeholders came together in Geneva recently to discuss the how the role of intellectual property is evolving when it comes to developing, protecting, and providing medicines.
WHO Group Keeps Lid On Bird Flu Lab Results – For Now 17/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A group of public health experts gathered by the World Health Organization agreed today to continue a moratorium on research done on the H5N1 bird flu virus modified in a laboratory to be more transmissible between mammals. But they said research should continue on the naturally occurring version of the virus.
Public Health In 2012: A Busy Crossroads Of Partnership, Innovation, And Trade 17/02/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment From advancing public-private partnerships and increasing international collaboration to promoting innovation in neglected therapy areas and developing new research and development models, policymakers have set a steady pace as they advance the 2012 global health agenda.
Global Fund Communications Director Steps Down 13/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Changes continue at the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as the director of communications announced today that he is stepping down immediately after nearly a decade.
US, WIPO Training Programme On IP Rights In Africa Comes Under Fire 12/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments For years, some developing countries have insisted that developed countries – which own the vast majority of intellectual property rights – take a singular focus when it comes to offering technical assistance on IP rights: the protection of “northern” property. In recent years, negotiations in venues like the World Intellectual Property Organization have sought to ensure that such assistance also highlight the creation of local IP rights as well as the availability of flexibilities developing countries have under international rules for IP.
EU-India Summit Kicks Off Amidst Warnings Of Impact On Medicines Access 10/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The European Union and India today will engage in a high-level meeting in New Delhi with an agenda that includes energy and climate, research and development, and information and communications technologies. But as they enter the meeting, an international health agency and a powerful health advocacy group have issued statements of concern that intellectual property provisions in a bilateral free trade agreement under negotiation will stifle critical generic medicines production in India, putting thousands of poor patients at risk worldwide.
WHO Group To Consult On Pandemic Flu Framework In Lead-Up To Assembly 07/02/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A key World Health Organization advisory group has invited stakeholders to consultations this month on the contribution of the private sector and others to global pandemic flu preparedness.
Another Indian Generics Company Signs With Patent Pool 02/02/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A leading supplier of generic antiretroviral medicines has signed an agreement to manufacture new HIV medicines for sale in developing countries, the Medicines Patent Pool announced today.
European Commission Orders Italy To Drop Patent Linkage Delaying Generics 31/01/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Commission has issued a formal request to Italy to remove linkage between patents and generic medicines authorisation that it says is causing delays in generics reaching the market.