WIPO Members Struggle To Define Work Programme On Patents And Health 27/02/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the World Intellectual Property Organization’s patent law committee grapples with starkly differing positions on the topic of patents and health, the secretariats of WIPO, the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization presented to members how their first trilateral study on access to medical technologies and innovation could be used as an effective resource. While the secretariats emphasised the neutral, informative nature of the book, some members pointed to a need for greater analysis of the challenges developing countries face when trying to use patent flexibilities for access to medicines.
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.
Change to UK Patents Act Removes Infringement For Use Of Clinical Trial Data 27/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Kingdom government has announced a change to the UK Patents Act that it says will help keep the country’s life sciences industry at the forefront of innovation by removing certain risks of drug development companies infringing patents.
Obama Administration Announces New Open Access Policy 26/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has issued a new policy memorandum increasing public access to federally funded scientific research, including peer-reviewed publications and digital data.
Report Finds Stronger Regulation Spurs Chemical Innovation 26/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments New research shows that more rigid laws regulating hazardous chemicals encourage innovation in both large and small companies, according to a report published by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
WTO: LDCs To Press For Extension For TRIPS, Plain Packaging Back 26/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Least developed countries next week will ask that World Trade Organization members grant them another extension of the transition period to enforce intellectual property protection measures beyond the current date of 1 July 2013. In addition, the issues of plain packaging for tobacco products and innovation will be back on the agenda of the WTO intellectual property committee.
WIPO Patent Committee Moves Quickly Through Agenda; Heavy Lifting To Come 26/02/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After months of delay, the Standing Committee of the Law of Patents (SCP) opened a meeting on 25 February at the World Intellectual Property Organization and will endeavour to advance negotiations on highly contentious issues including quality of patents, patents and health, and exceptions and limitations to patent rights.
Web-Based IP Assessment Tool Gets Update From USPTO 25/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today released an updated version of their web-based intellectual property assessment tool, which aims to make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more aware of their IP assests.
WIPO Blind Treaty Text Shapes Up On Last Day; More Drafting In April 23/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A week of arduous negotiations and doubts at the World Intellectual Property Organization about progress on a text to become a treaty for the benefit of visually impaired people was concluded positively yesterday with a sigh of relief by most delegations, and observers. A new text was issued and even though most deemed that crucial issues were addressed, some are outstanding and delegates will meet again in April to continue their drafting efforts.
WIPO Treaty For The Blind: Rightsholders Seek Safeguards, Civil Society Seeks Real Access 21/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments While country delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization are working to find consensus on a text to become a treaty for the benefit of blind and visually impaired people, industry and non-governmental organisations are pushing their agendas.