Kenya Rejects Bid To Remove Government’s Compulsory Licensing Flexibilities 14/09/2007 by Paul Garwood for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Paul Garwood Kenya’s Parliament has rejected a proposal to revoke the government’s powers to issue compulsory licenses to manufacture products such as generic medicines without patent holder approval, a move welcomed Friday by supporters of universal access to pharmaceuticals. The decision, made late Wednesday, protects Kenya’s ability to acquire affordable generic medicines, such as […]
Kenyan Parliament To Debate Scrapping Compulsory Licensing Powers 12/09/2007 by Paul Garwood for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Paul Garwood Kenyan lawmakers are set to debate proposed amendments to a bill that, if passed, would prevent the government from issuing compulsory licenses to produce urgently needed medicines without seeking approval from the patent holder. The amendments, which involve deleting parts of Kenya’s Industrial Property Act of 2001, were first expected to be […]
EU Split Arises Over Thai Effort To Obtain Cheaper Patented Drugs 05/09/2007 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch A dispute has erupted between two of the European Union’s most powerful institutions over Thailand’s decision to circumvent pharmaceutical patents in order to boost its supply of cheap medicines. Peter Mandelson, who holds the trade portfolio in the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, recently wrote to several […]
WHO Holds Online Hearing On Innovation, IP Project 17/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The World Health Organization is inviting participation in a six-week online public hearing from anyone interested in commenting on an ongoing process on how to ensure treatments for neglected diseases mainly found in developing countries. “WHO again encourages individuals, civil society groups, government institutions, academic and research institutions, the private […]
Accueil timide pour le document de négociation de l’OMS sur la PI 16/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Le nouveau document de négociation de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) élaboré en vue du dernier cycle de ce qui est devenu un intense processus d’analyse de l’innovation médicale et de la propriété intellectuelle restreint son champ d’action à environ douze maladies mais reste très ouvert en ce qui […]
Recepción cautelosa del proyecto de texto de negociación sobre propiedad intelectual de la OMS 15/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen El nuevo proyecto de documento de negociación de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) destinado a la última ronda de lo que se ha convertido en un proceso intenso de análisis sobre innovación de medicamentos y propiedad intelectual restringe el enfoque a aproximadamente una docena de enfermedades, aunque conserva […]
WHO Draft Negotiating Text On IP Cautiously Received 08/08/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The World Health Organization’s (WHO) new draft negotiating document for the final round of what has become an intense process of analysing medicines innovation and intellectual property narrows the focus to about a dozen diseases but is wide-ranging on policy options, seemingly encompassing all proposals. In early reactions, some criticised […]
Rejected Novartis Cases Leave India’s TRIPS Compliance Unchallenged 07/08/2007 by Tatum Anderson for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Tatum Anderson for Intellectual Property Watch As Indian lawyers for Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis comb through a High Court judgment published today, the question of whether the Indian patent law is compliant with a World Trade Organization treaty remains unanswered. The judgment, from the Indian High Court in Chennai, threw out two highly contentious […]
Observers Watchful Of US Trade Impact On Medicines Access 24/07/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The United States has begun incorporating a revised intellectual property and health policy into its bilateral trade deals. But although the overall softer approach towards its partners may improve access to medicines, the debate on the impact of the US free trade agreements on public health in developing countries is […]
Rwanda Pioneers Use Of WTO Patent Flexibility For HIV/AIDS Medicine 20/07/2007 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Years after it was permitted under international trade law, the first country has notified the World Trade Organization that it will use a flexibility allowing it to address public health needs by importing a patented medicine produced without authorisation of the patent holder. Rwanda this week told the WTO it […]