Dominican Republic Files WTO Case Over Australian Tobacco Packaging 18/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Dominican Republic, a strong tobacco producer, today notified the World Trade Organization that it has launched a dispute settlement case against Australia over its new law requiring tobacco to be sold in plain packaging in order to discourage its use for public health reasons.
UN Human Rights Council Tackles IPRs, Benefits Of Scientific Progress 09/07/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The United Nations Human Rights Council last week adopted a resolution promoting cultural rights and diversity, with a commitment to hold a seminar next year on the right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications. The resolution includes continuing support for a special observer on the issue who recently submitted a report raising questions about the impact of intellectual property rights on the diffusion of knowledge.
New UN Human Rights Council Resolution On Internet Rights 05/07/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a new resolution on the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the internet. The resolution ties such rights to development, and is said to be the first UN resolution to put online human rights on par with those offline.
European Parliament Rejection Puts ACTA Future In Doubt 04/07/2012 by William New and Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 20 Comments Today’s overwhelming defeat of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) by the European Parliament could have a resounding effect on the treaty’s prospects for survival, according to sources. Meanwhile, public interest groups are celebrating and copyright holders fuming.
Licensing, Generic Competition Needed To Drive Down HIV Drug Prices, Speakers Say 28/06/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The accessibility and affordability of drugs in developing countries depend on robust generic competition and would benefit from greater transparency in the terms and conditions of licensing agreements, the acting head of the Medicines Patent Pool said on a panel at the World Intellectual Property Organization that included a speaker from the Indian generics industry and a representative of Gilead Sciences.
Internet Freedom At Home: Governments, Companies Need Accountability, Speakers Say 22/06/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The freedom to access the internet does not translate into freedom of expression in many countries of the world, including in western economies, according to speakers at a peer forum organised yesterday by the United States mission to the United Nations in Geneva.
Unprecedented Vote: EU Parliament Trade Committee Rejects ACTA 21/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments In an unprecedented move, the European Parliament Committee on International Trade (INTA) today in Brussels passed a report recommending the rejection of the controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Never before has INTA voted to reject a trade agreement negotiated by the Union.
If You Can’t Join ‘Em, Beat ‘Em: New Industry Effort A Jab At Patent Pool? 21/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new pharmaceutical industry initiative aimed at improving access to HIV treatments in least-developed countries is raising questions as to how it will fit with the Medicines Patent Pool, an existing group with a similar mandate. As an informal meeting on the new initiative kicks off this week in New Delhi, scrutiny will be paid to whether the initiative’s drivers are several companies that have declined to negotiate with the patent pool and whether it is a good-faith effort to help the greatest number of patients.
Near-Final Draft Of Rio+20 Outcome Document Shows Likely Commitments 20/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A draft of the outcome document for this week’s Rio+20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, said to be close to the final version, shows where governments have placed their focus. It appears that technology transfer is well-recognised, intellectual property rights to a lesser extent, but firm actions in these areas may still be to come.
WHO Paper: How To Guard Against Tobacco Companies – And Trade Law 20/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization has published a paper that explains to policymakers and others how to take measures to protect public health against tobacco while staying within the bounds of international trade and investment law, under intense industry pressure. Key aspects of the report deal with intellectual property rights policy, as it relates to international trade.