World Health Assembly Opens On Note Of Global Crises, Hope For IP 20/05/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The 61st annual World Health Assembly on Monday opened auspiciously with speeches on the world’s biggest political issues, current disasters and looming global threats, but little room for intellectual property issues. IP issues did arise in a press briefing with US Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, however. Some 2,500 people […]
Intellectual Property Issues Come To A Head At World Health Assembly 19/05/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment [Note: Monday midday update below] By William New Member governments of the World Health Organization will try this week to finalise a strategy and plan of action to stimulate innovation on diseases disproportionately affecting poor populations. The members also will discuss the WHO’s latest efforts on counterfeit medicines, the impact of intellectual property rights on […]
Suspension des obligations au titre de l’Accord sur les ADPIC: une alternative croissante en matière de sanction 16/05/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Catherine Saez Prendre des mesures de rétorsion à l’égard d’un pays violant les règles de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) en sanctionnant les activités qu’il exerce dans un secteur autre que celui concerné par la violation constitue une alternative efficace aux mesures de rétorsion touchant le secteur concerné par la violation, en particulier quand […]
UN Events Map Efforts To Narrow Digital Divide, Increase Information Access 16/05/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Nearly three weeks of meetings of governments, civil society organisations, trade groups, and intergovernmental bodies will report on how far nations have come towards bridging the so-called “digital divide” between those who have access to information technology and all of its attendant benefits, and those whom the digital revolution is passing by. […]
IP Rights Arise In UN Debate On The Right To Participate In Cultural Life 15/05/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Catherine Saez Intellectual property rights came into play in a recent discussion on the right of all humans to take part in cultural life organised by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). The right to take part in cultural life is an accepted fundamental human right, mentioned in several […]
Suspensión de obligaciones en virtud del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC: una nueva alternativa de retorsión de la OMC 15/05/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Catherine Saez Cuando un país infringe las normas de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC), la retorsión contra dicho país mediante la imposición de sanciones a sus actividades en un sector comercial no relacionado puede ser una opción más eficaz para los países en desarrollo que una retorsión aplicada dentro del sector de la […]
Suspending TRIPS Obligations: A Rising Alternative For WTO Retaliation 09/05/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Catherine Saez Retaliating against a country found in violation of World Trade Organization rules by sanctioning the country’s activities in an unrelated trade sector may be a more effective alternative for developing countries than retaliating under the sector of the violation, especially when such cross-retaliation involves WTO rules on intellectual property rights, an expert told a panel this week.
European Parliament Set To Reprimand Mandelson For Pressuring Thailand 09/05/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – The European Parliament looks set to take Brussels’ top trade official to task over his latest attempt to persuade Thailand that it should revise its policy on pharmaceutical patents. Shortly after a new government was installed in Bangkok earlier this year, European Union trade commissioner Peter […]
WHO IP And Health Group Concludes With Progress; Tough Issues Remain For Assembly 06/05/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Note: The latest version of the draft strategy (dated Saturday, 3 May, 14.00h) is now available on the WHO website [click here]. By Kaitlin Mara and William New The World Health Organization (WHO) negotiations on public health, intellectual property and innovation ended Saturday with substantial progress toward consensus on a draft strategy but with a […]
La protection des droits de propriété intellectuelle : une priorité pour le Représentant américain au commerce 03/05/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par William New Si le rapport publié chaque année par le gouvernement américain afin d’évaluer la manière dont les partenaires commerciaux étrangers protègent les droits de propriété intellectuelle des entreprises américaines et décourager les investissements dans les pays défaillants a une fois encore fustigé l’attitude de la Chine et la Russie, il a également mis […]