Pending Decision On GM Maize In Mexico Under Fire 15/11/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The ETC Group has issued a warning that “agribusiness giants Monsanto, DuPont and Dow are plotting the boldest coup of a global food crop in history,” as they have applied to the Mexican government for the planting of transgenic maize on 2,500,000 hectares, approximately the size of El Salvador.
Global Fund Names Mark Dybul Executive Director 15/11/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria appointed Ambassador Mark Dybul, a former US Global AIDS Coordinator, as the new head of the organisation. Additionally, the Board decided to move forward on implementing a new funding model, replacing the rounds-based system.
EU Parliament, Scientists Press Governments To Boost Research Funding 15/11/2012 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As governments prepare to debate the European Union’s overall budget for 2014-2020, European Parliament members and top scientists today warned that any cuts to research and innovation funding will risk the loss of a generation of scientists just when Europe needs them most.
Gaps Persist On WIPO Development Dimension 15/11/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The development dimension of the World Intellectual Property Organization is under scrutiny by member states this week, and after a smooth start and a general commitment to work cooperatively and constructively, discussions have demonstrated strongly held positions, leaving countries to try and find common ground.
Medicines Patent Pool Names New Director 14/11/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Greg Perry, a longtime leader in the European generics industry, has been named the new executive director of the Medicines Patent Pool, a cutting-edge Geneva-based group working to increase access to affordable, high-quality medicines for HIV/AIDS patients in low and middle income countries.
Next Global Fund Director To Be Chosen From Four Candidates This Week 12/11/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a health financing institution focused on the global South, is poised this week to select its next director – from the North. And while the selection process has been conducted in the utmost secrecy, confidential selection documents show that the list is down to four candidates, said to be from Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Southeast Asian States Move To Harmonise Their E-Commerce Laws 12/11/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Cebu City, Philippines – The 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met over the weekend to advance the groundwork for what is perceived as a challenging but progressing task of harmonising their e-commerce laws, ahead of the region’s nearing deadline of creating an integrated economy by 2015.
Full Agenda For WIPO Committee On Development This Week 11/11/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment After a difficult session last May, the World Intellectual Property Organization committee examining the development dimension of WIPO activities will reconvene next week with a substantive agenda. In particular, delegates will assess progress of ongoing projects, consider reports on finished projects, and consider the committee’s future work. They also will consider a conference on IP and development.
Technical Meeting Advances Ideas For WHO-Led R&D Financing Framework 09/11/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An outside meeting of experts has prepared a report ahead of this month’s gathering of World Health Organization members hoping to agree on new models for financing research and development for diseases lacking adequate market mechanisms and public policies. These include neglected diseases that predominantly affect poor populations unable to pay high prices needed to defray R&D costs under the existing commercial model.
WTO Members Launch Debate On IP And Innovation; LDCs Seek More Time To Enforce IP Rules 07/11/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Members of the World Trade Organization intellectual property rights committee today launched their first-ever debate on IP and innovation. In addition, least developed countries formally requested an extension of their transition period to enforce WTO rules on IPRs.