Where There Is A Will There Is A Way: Speakers At WIPO Event Discuss Indigenous Knowledge Protection 22/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An event held on the side of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge meeting last week looked at ways to move discussions forward in the light of the committee’s expected renewed mandate. Speakers explored different perspectives and possible new avenues for indigenous and local communities to protect and manage their knowledge and cultural heritage, without the threat of misappropriation.
WHO Starts Work On Essential List Of Diagnostics To Facilitate Access, Lower Prices 16/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization announced yesterday that it has begun work on a list of essential diagnostics, as an echo of its Model List of Essential Medicines.
Indigenous People Ask For More Involvement in Decision Making At WIPO 15/06/2017 by Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Different representatives of indigenous people shared their views and concerns on the protection of the rights of indigenous people and local communities during a side event at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week. Speakers underlined the need of consultation of indigenous people during negotiations about their rights.
Stakeholders Collectively Designing Future Of Artificial Intelligence 14/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Designing a world where humans have to share space with robots is not an easy task. Several initiatives are looking at ways to address issues linked to the main fuel of artificial intelligence: data. Such issues include privacy, data ownership and sharing, but also making sure that artificial intelligence will not widen the existing digital divide. Speakers at a global summit last week provided insight on ongoing efforts to understand and best tackle the inevitable and sometimes unforeseen problems of this new territory.
Industry, NGOs On Staff At WHO? Beware Of Revolving Doors, Some Say 06/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The agreement found last year after months of intense discussion to avert the possibility of undue influence by outside actors at the World Health Organization is yet to be fully implemented. The World Health Assembly last week looked at progress and the process by which the WHO can temporarily welcome on its staff individuals from the private sector, civil society, philanthropic foundations, and academic institutions. Some countries questioned principles in this process but were told by the WHO that their comments would merely be recorded.
REGISTER NOW! The Global Debate On Intellectual Property, Trade And Development: Past, Present and Future 05/06/2017 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Global Debate on Intellectual Property, Trade and Development: Past, Present and Future A Conference in Honour of Pedro Roffe
World Health Assembly Adopts Resolution Supporting Tax On Tobacco, Alcohol, Sugar 02/06/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Cancer, diabetes, heart disease and chronic respiratory diseases are killing millions of people each year, making noncommunicable diseases the leading global cause of human deaths, many of them premature. This week, the World Health Assembly endorsed an updated set of policy options for countries to help them with the prevention and control of those diseases. On the list is a suggestion for tax increases on tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, and the reduction of salt intake. Supported by many countries, it was resisted by the United States and Italy.
Cancer Drugs: Innovation ‘Blackmail’ Leads To Unaffordable Prices, Delinkage Needed, Speakers Say 30/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments What if you get an aggressive form of breast cancer, and the treatment exists but it is too expensive for you to get? You die. Tragic stories and the possibilities to avert them were centre stage at a panel last week on the margin of the ongoing World Health Assembly. Delinking the cost of research and development from the market prices of medicines was urged by speakers on the panel: representatives of cancer patients, civil society, and the Brazilian deputy ambassador.
More Than 60 Groups, Companies Urge EU To Step Up Copyright Reform 29/05/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A range of civil society groups and companies today urged the European Union to embrace a more ambitious agenda for reform of the Union’s copyright law.
Antimicrobial Resistance: PPPs The Way Forward, Speakers Say 25/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With global funding for research and development decreasing, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, ways to incentivise research are seen as key to solving the problem. Speakers at a side event to the World Health Assembly this week presented models of public and private partnerships to address the issue.