Workshop: How To Tackle The High Cost Of Prescription Drugs In The US 09/03/2017 by Kim Treanor for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A recent workshop held on the doorstep of policymakers in the United States drew speakers from academic and activist circles to examine the mechanisms in US law which could help lead to lower prescription drug prices.
Rare Diseases: Pharma Industry Calls For Collaboration, Political Commitment For Research 01/03/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Big Pharma wants to develop treatments for rare diseases, with government support. The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) this week launched a new report describing policy priorities to increase research and development into rare diseases.
South Centre Paper Sees IP In Free Trade Agreements Interfering With UN SDGs 27/02/2017 by Kim Treanor for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new paper from the intergovernmental South Centre argues that intellectual property provisions in recent free trade agreements would impair countries trying to fulfil the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Image Credits: South Centre
IP Scholars Warn About Stringent Copyright Rules In Asian RCEP Agreement 27/02/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment As negotiations take place this week in Japan for a free trade agreement covering the Asia-Pacific region, a group of intellectual property scholars is calling for the public interest to be clearly considered in the copyright rules of the future agreement.
US Business, Government Work To Bring Down ‘Dangerous’ UN Panel Report On Access To Medicines – And Change The Debate In Geneva 23/02/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Calling it flawed and narrow and seemingly threatened by its contents, the leading United States business group and US government IP specialists are working to limit the impact of a recent United Nations report that made recommendations for the decades-old problem of ensuring affordable medicines reach people when they are under patent in a way that does not threaten innovation. One step in countering the UN report? Change the discourse in Geneva and elsewhere.
In US, New Tactics To Combat Online Copyright Infringement 21/02/2017 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The death was quick, quiet, and unmourned. The Copyright Alert System – a once vaunted plan to stop online copyright infringement in the US – was killed on 27 January. Lasting only four years, CAS had accomplished little and satisfied no one, according to many experts. What went wrong? And what is the movie and music industries’ next plan to combat online infringement?
Geneva Health Campus: New Home For Global Fund, GAVI, Unitaid In 2018 14/02/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The construction of a new building to host the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and other key players in the area of global health is well under way in Geneva. The “Campus Santé” (Health Campus) is expected to open its doors at the beginning of 2018. The hosts of the building will be tenants, while the investment costs are borne by Crédit Suisse, a prominent Swiss investment bank.
Leadership Rotation For Fight The Fakes Campaign 09/02/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new industry group today took the reins of the Fight the Fakes campaign, a growing coalition against fake medicines, the first rotation in leadership since its launch in late 2013.
WIPO Broadcasting Treaty: What Broadcasters Really Want To Protect Their Business From Piracy 09/02/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment In discussion for close to 16 years at the World Intellectual Property Organization, a treaty aimed at protecting broadcasting organisations’ intellectual property rights has not reached conclusion. Intellectual Property Watch sat down recently with the European Broadcasting Union to understand what broadcasters actually say they need to protect their businesses against piracy. As to what they see hindering the technical resolution of the treaty? Politics.
US Chamber International IP Index: US, Europe At Top; India Needs A Push 08/02/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The United States Chamber of Commerce today released its fifth annual International IP Index, which makes the case for the positive impact of intellectual property on economies. The United States scored highest, followed by top European economies and Japan. And near the bottom was India, despite recent efforts to accept the IP system. Separately, the report assesses international trade rules for IP and argues for nations to negotiate “TRIPS-plus” agreements.