US Civil Society Demand To Know If They Were Spied On: ‘Core American Principles’ At Stake 12/11/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Nearly 40 US civil society groups – including some household names in consumer protection – today sent a letter to the heads of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) demanding to know if their activities related to US trade policy have been spied on. The groups said core American principles are at stake and that they have a right to the assurance that their operations are not under surveillance by US government agencies.
US Patriot Act Author Sensenbrenner Warns EU Parliament On NSA 11/11/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment US Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner at a hearing today of the European Parliament Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Committee on mass surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA) and other intelligence services asked the EU politicians “to work pragmatically with the United States to continue balanced efforts to protection our nations” and “rebuild trust while defending civil liberties and national security on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Expert: US ‘Benign Dictatorship’ Of The Net Is Over; Age Of Encryption Begins 07/11/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Cypto-guru Bruce Schneier, who has analysed thousands of documents provided by Edward Snowden on the secret surveillance programmes of the US National Security Agency, has called on the technical community to add encryption to the network and also come up with a new model for internet governance.
Farmers’ Groups Warn ARIPO About Implementing UPOV 91 In Africa 30/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A collective civil society group has raised concerns about a draft Africa Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) plant variety protection law, which is based on the 1991 version of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). The draft law, which may come up for adoption in November, would criminalise farmers’ rights and undermine the seed systems in Africa, they said.
European Parliament: No More Bank Data Transfers To US For Anti-Terror Investigations 23/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Parliament is showing some teeth again. Following the ongoing revelations of mass surveillance by US intelligence agencies, the Parliament plenary today passed a resolution calling on the EU Commission to temporarily suspend all data transfers according to the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP) with the United States Treasury Department.
UNDP Study Calls On South Africa To Use TRIPS Flexibilities For Medicines Access 18/10/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A newly published study from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) outlines significant problems in accessing medicines in South Africa – which is said to have the highest number of people living with HIV in the world – and urges its government to use available tools under international trade law such as exceptions to patents on needed medicines.
New EU Customs Regulation Might Allow Wrongful Seizures Of Generic Drugs In Transit, NGOs Say 17/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A recent European Union regulation on customs enforcement of intellectual property rights has raised concerns among civil society actors who find that the regulation might not be an improvement over its previous version under which seizure of legal generic medicines in transit occurred a few years ago, leading to a World Trade Organization dispute.
US Signs WIPO Marrakesh Treaty On Copyright Exceptions For The Blind 11/10/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United States has signed the World Intellectual Property Organization Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled.
WHO Fine-Tuning Pandemic Flu Preparedness Strategy, Use Of Industry Contributions 11/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization is putting the finishing touches on an implementation plan for industry’s financial participation in the global influenza preparedness strategy. This week the advisory group met to discuss a draft plan presented by the WHO secretariat, which should now come up with a revised version for implementation in early 2014, according to the chair of the advisory group.
Right To Benefits Of Science: Human Rights Meet IP Rights 10/10/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A seminar on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications was held at the United Nations last week with panellists exploring the intersection between intellectual property and human rights in the context of public health, agriculture, and the role of flexibilities to achieve balance between private and public interests.