On Plant Patents, EPO President Backs Industry, Disregards EU Parliament, Group Says 13/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A civil society coalition fighting patents on conventional plants in Europe has published a briefing paper alleging that the European Patent Office is giving a “green light” to patents on plants and animals, disregarding the position of the European Parliament.
US Defender Of Internet Freedom, Keen On Protecting IP Rights 08/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments For the third year in a row, the United States mission to the United Nations in Geneva brought together human rights activists from different parts of the world in an effort to promote internet freedom. At a press briefing, a senior US State Department official described efforts to address challenges to freedom on the internet, and said that intellectual property in the context of internet is a complicated issue.
WTO Hears Health, Economic Considerations Of Plain Packaging For Tobacco 07/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In its meeting this week, the World Trade Organisation intellectual property committee heard again about the issue of plain packaging of tobacco products, as New Zealand is proposing to introduce such a regime in the country. Economic and health interests were used by those opposed and proponents to the measure.
Academics Criticise Handling Of Cultural Diversity, Traditional Knowledge At International Level 06/03/2013 by Tiphaine Nunzia Caulier for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments At a recent conference jointly organised by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID, Geneva) and the Museum of Art and History of Geneva, academics tackled the question of the preservation of culture – in its natural and cultural dimension – against the risks of globalisation.
Monsanto v. Bowman: Stocktaking After Supreme Court Hearings 05/03/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The United States Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the case opposing a US farmer to agro-industry giant Monsanto on the issue of patent exhaustion in patented seeds. Lead lawyers in the case and others offered comments on the heels of the hearing, while the Supreme Court Justices are considering the arguments and are expected to reach a decision sometime this spring.
Bayer Will Appeal India Compulsory Licence On Its Cancer Drug 05/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments German pharmaceutical manufacturer Bayer has announced it will appeal yesterday’s ruling in India that upheld a compulsory licence on one of its drugs.
Should Industry Support LDCs’ Request For Unlimited Time To Implement The TRIPS Agreement? Absolutely 04/03/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Nick Ashton-Hart writes: Some of you may have noticed that the ICT sector trade association that I represent in Geneva, the Computer and Communication Industry Association (CCIA), has endorsed a bid by the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDC’s) to remove any specific deadline for full compliance with the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.
Patent Pool-ViiV Collaboration On Paediatric HIV Sparks Reactions, Hope 04/03/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Medicines Patent Pool has announced a ground-breaking collaboration with a private sector joint venture that it said will facilitate greater availability of critical medicines for children with HIV worldwide. The announcement caused a wave of positive reactions across the public health community, with many hoping for more in the future.
WIPO Patent Law Committee Cinches Agreement On Future Work 01/03/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With the threat of suspension of work looming, the World Intellectual Property Organization Standing Committee of the Law of Patents (SCP) agreed to a minimal programme of work, which includes exceptions and limitations to patent rights, quality of patents, and patents and health. Delegates made significant concessions on all sides, but the Africa Group expressed particular disappointment in the limited commitment to work on the patents and health topic.
With Lively Start, African IP Conference Addresses Medicines Access, GIs 27/02/2013 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Johannesburg, South Africa — The start of the Africa IP conference was the scene of a surprise protest action by Treatment Action Campaign health activists who ambushed the stage as South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies was about to welcome delegates to the three-day conference.