Workshop Highlights IP Hindrances For Avian Flu Drug Stockpiles 14/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Panelists at a Geneva workshop on intellectual property issues related to a possible avian influenza pandemic argued that IP rules and prices could make it difficult for nations to prepare sufficient stockpiles. Panelists argued that practical problems could arise with the application of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights […]
WHO: Patents Won’t Block Access To Avian Flu Medicines 10/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organisation does not think patents will stand in the way of an effective public health action in the event of an outbreak of avian flu in humans because pharmaceutical companies have showed a willingness to co-operate, a senior UN official said on 9 November. Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general’s representative for pandemic […]
Global Focus Emerges On Avian Flu 08/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Strategy for a possible outbreak of avian flu has been elevated from a national to an international level with a high-level meeting on a “plan of action” being held this week at the World Health Organisation. Intellectual property rights are on the agenda, but the focus during the first day and a half was bio-security […]
Industry Concerned About Development Agenda At WIPO 04/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment At the recent World Intellectual Property Organisation General Assembly, an effort by some developing countries to increase WIPO’s orientation toward development issues met with a lobbying campaign by representatives of developed country industries that would be affected by the reform. The issue cuts across a number of industries invested in intellectual property rights, including pharmaceuticals, […]
Pandemic Fears Raise Questions About WTO Health Waiver Opt-Out 27/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As nations prepare for a possible avian flu pandemic, some observers are raising questions about a seemingly obscure footnote in international trade law under which dozens of governments have agreed not to import cheap generic drugs made for poor countries. The concern is that the provision could make it difficult for those developed countries to […]
US, Switzerland, Japan Launch New WTO Probe On China’s IP Enforcement 26/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States, Japan and Switzerland have taken bilateral actions through the World Trade Organization to probe China’s intellectual property rights enforcement, despite Chinese objections. The three nations are requesting more transparency based on Article 63.3 of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). During the 25 October TRIPS Council meeting, […]
No Agreement On Public Health At TRIPS Council 25/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Officials at the World Trade Organization committee responsible for intellectual property issues on Tuesday could not agree on how to permanently change trade law to permit poor countries in need to import drugs made elsewhere under compulsory license. The WTO Council on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is under mandate […]
Indian Industry Pushing for Compulsory Licenses for Tamiflu 25/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment While Swiss-based Roche, the rights holder to the most-favoured medicine for avian influenza, is pursuing sub-licenses, India is moving ahead with exploring the option of compulsory licensing. If this goes through, India would be able to export Tamiflu to developing countries and certain developed countries. The Indian Cabinet is considering issuing compulsory licenses to local […]
Roche Seeks Deals On Bird Flu Drug As Compulsory Licenses Loom 20/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Roche, the Swiss-based company with rights to a medicine believed to be the most effective in the event of an avian influenza pandemic, has expressed openness to discussing arrangements with companies or governments to produce more of its flu treatment known as Tamiflu. But sceptics argue that the offer, made on 18 October, is too […]
US ‘Pulls Out All Stops’ As UNESCO Backs Culture Treaty 17/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Paris—The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) today approved a treaty for the protection of cultural diversity despite an all-out drive by the United States to get governments to change their minds. “We really pulled out all the stops” in the past week to try to change the outcome of this treaty, a US […]