Non-Corporate Entities Join Forces Against Adoption Of Plant Breeders’ Rights Regulations In Africa 02/12/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, civil society, and farmers’ representatives have raised serious concerns on the upcoming adoption of draft regulations of a protocol protecting breeders’ rights in Africa. Civil society groups and farmers’ representatives have been blocked from participating in the meeting expected to adopt the regulations, according to them. The Special Rapporteur is calling for a halt to the process, and for starting again with a more transparent, inclusive, and evidence-based process.
ILO Decisions Said To Confirm EPO Staff Lack Fair Legal System 01/12/2016 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The International Labour Organization Administration Tribunal (ILO-AT) on 30 November set aside two European Patent Office (EPO) decisions rejecting employee challenges to various internal rules. The judgments, which sent the complaints back to the EPO on the grounds that they had not been handled by the proper authorities, highlight the lack of a “fair and functioning” legal system for EPO staff, said an employee source who asked to remain anonymous.
WHO Board May Discuss UN High-Level Panel Report On Medicines Access 30/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The UN World Health Organization this week clarified that the possibility exists for the WHO Executive Board to discuss a recently released report from a UN Secretary General-appointed panel that makes recommendations for improving global access to medicines.
Hundreds Of Civil Society Groups Urge RCEP Negotiators To Reject Imported TPP Clauses 30/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As 16 Asia and Pacific nations prepare to meet in Indonesia next week for the next round of negotiations for a large regional trade agreement called RCEP, more than 300 civil society groups signed a letter urging negotiators to reject efforts to bring in texts from the separate Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
CERN Staff Association Says There’s A “Loose Screw” At Top Of EPO 29/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Staff Association of the Geneva-based European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) this week issued a strongly worded statement in solidarity with staff at the European Patent Office. They called the EPO essential to Europe and said the EPO president’s repressive “19th century”-style anti-worker tactics are endangering the institution and the European economy.
UN Secretary-General Urges Action On High-Level Panel Report On Medicines Access 22/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today issued a message praising the “milestone” report of a High-Level Panel on access to medicines he set up a year ago to address the continuing problem of medicines prices being too high for many in the world to afford, and the lack of access to quality medicines for many. In his message, he called on governments to review the report and its recommendations, and to chart a way forward to address the problem of lack of access to medicines and health technologies.
Turning Promises Of Marrakesh Treaty For Visually Impaired Into Reality 21/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment With the recent entry into force of the Marrakesh Treaty providing copyright exceptions for persons with visual impairments, a panel convened alongside last week’s World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee meeting explored ways to transform the treaty’s promises into reality.
Report: Use Of Social Media And Apps Under Assault; China Is Worst Abuser – Worse Than Syria 15/11/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Governments around the world are increasingly cracking down on use of communications apps like WhatsApp and Facebook. Of the 65 countries assessed, governments in 24 impeded access to social media and communication tools, up from 15 in the previous year, the report said.
US Secrecy Prevails In German Constitutional Court 15/11/2016 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The German constitutional court has rebuffed a second complaint seeking to allow oversight bodies to see the US National Security Administration (NSA) selector list.
Access To Medicine Index Finds Progress In Pharma’s Efforts 14/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Access to Medicine Index 2016 was published today, analysing the top 20 research-based pharmaceutical companies. The index looks at how those companies make medicines, vaccines and diagnostics more accessible in low- and middle-income countries. The index found progress in companies’ efforts to improve access but little support for flexibilities enshrined in international trade rules.