Voices Of The Blind In Marrakesh Hope To Carry A Long Way 25/06/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Marrakesh, Morocco – Yesterday, under a scorching sun, the World Blind Union organised an event to raise awareness about the negotiations taking place inside the Marrakesh Palais des Congrès. Behind them, in the building, negotiators have been at work for a week in an effort to agree and adopt a treaty to provide visually impaired people with a broader access to books.
Harvard Professor A Flag Bearer For Agricultural Innovation, Biotechnologies In Africa 21/06/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A Harvard University professor known for advancing global development issues hails the merits of agricultural innovation, including biotechnologies, as the unique solution to food security.
WIPO Negotiators Urged To Speed Up, As Musician Stevie Wonder Steps Up 21/06/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Pop star Stevie Wonder was a surprise guest this morning at the plenary session of the World Intellectual Property Organization diplomatic conference in Marrakesh concocting a treaty to facilitate access for blind people to books. The president of the diplomatic conference also exhorted delegates to bridge gaps and reach consensus.
Members Of US Congress Seek Pressure On India Over IP Rights 20/06/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A large portion of the United States Congress this week signed on to a letter to President Obama criticising India for its treatment of intellectual property rights.
Visually Impaired, Civil Society, Industry Defend Their Stakes In Marrakesh 20/06/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This week’s World Intellectual Property Organization Marrakesh Diplomatic Conference, anticipated to deliver an international treaty allowing visually impaired people wider access to books, is also an arena where different stakeholders hope to influence the debate. Civil society calls for a practical treaty that really works on the ground, while industry insists that safeguards to protect the integrity of the international copyright laws be included in the treaty.
The Impact Of Derailing The WHO Medical R&D Convention 19/06/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An article in the newly launched Journal of Health Diplomacy about the stalled progress at the World Health Organization for a medical research and development (R&D) convention discusses systemic failures in global health policy.
EIFL Guide To The European Orphan Works Directive 19/06/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A guide to key provisions and limitations of the European Union directive on permitted uses of orphan works – those whose creators cannot be found – has been published by the Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL).
US Businesses Launch Coalition For Fair Trade With India 18/06/2013 by Kelly Burke for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A new coalition of United States business groups, called the Alliance for Fair Trade with India (ATFI), launched today to take aim against what they say are discriminatory trade practices in India against US exports.
Test Of Political Flexibility In Final Lap For WIPO Treaty For The Blind 14/06/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Starting next week, Marrakesh, Morocco, will be the site of a two-week high level conference expected to yield a treaty facilitating the international access to books for blind and visually impaired people. Stakes are high, not only for the beneficiaries, but also for the industry worried that the copyright system might be endangered by the new treaty, introducing limitations to copyright.
EU Court Backs Secrecy, Privileged Industry Access In Trade Talks 07/06/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Secrecy in trade negotiations and privileged access for business and trade associations does not violate EU law, according to a judgment handed in by the Court of the European Union in Luxembourg today.