Rio+20 Conference Opens With IP, Tech Transfer, Underlying Debate 18/06/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments As world leaders along with thousands of government, private sector and nonprofit participants, get ready to meet in Rio de Janeiro this week, 20 years after this Brazilian city hosted the historic first Earth Summit, there are fears that there may be no meaningful consensus on how the world can become more liveable and sustainable at the same time. And technology transfer, research and development, intellectual property rights are part of the debate.
UNCTAD Report Sees Sustainable African Growth In IP Flexibilities 15/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations agency on trade and development this week published its Economic Development in Africa 2012 report, which argued, among other things, that the region’s sustainable future depends on using flexibilities in intellectual property rights as appropriate.
Global Broadband Commission Urges G20 To Act For Development 15/06/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Broadband Commission for Digital Development, a mixed public-private sector leaders group aimed at boosting high-speed internet availability in the developing world, today issued an open letter to the leaders of the Group of 20 urging action which the commission says will lead to greater socio-economic growth.
European Nuclear Lab CERN Launches New “Easy IP” Plan 04/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Does the idea of a multifunctional, versatile position-sensitive detector for measuring characteristics of a beam of particles spark ideas for useful products of benefit to society and the economy? If so, then CERN has just the thing for you. In an attempt to boost the utility of its research, the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), the Geneva-based intergovernmental laboratory, today announced a plan to offer its patented technologies for licence royalty-free in order to promote innovation.
Asian Governments Plan To Better Use TRIPS Flexibilities For Health 01/06/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments International trade rules related to intellectual property rights enshrine the notion that there may be cases where exceptions to IP rights are needed by governments, such as sovereign decisions on a nation’s public health. Using those flexibilities could save millions of lives but may mean taking a tough stance in free trade negotiations with bigger trading partners, concluded a meeting of Asian stakeholders this week.
Compulsory Licences Positive For The South, With Conditions, Study Finds 31/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Compulsory licences can provide an efficient way to decrease prices of drugs in developing countries but the conditions of issuance of a licence influence the benefits countries can derive from them, particularly if the countries have a technology gap, according to an economic model presented this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
World Health Assembly: WHO Carves Out Leadership Role In “Vaccine Decade” 28/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With a generous pledge and a grand vision, Bill Gates launched the “Decade of Vaccines” two years ago. By endorsing a “Global Vaccine Action Plan” during the World Health Assembly, the world’s health authority stands as the lead agency in advancing the initiative.
World Health Assembly: Member States Call For Acceleration On Pandemic Flu Preparedness 26/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment One year since the adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, member states emphasised the importance of bio-sharing initiative and in some in cases raised concerns about the pace of implementation.
No Agreement On Future Work At WIPO Committee On Patents 26/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A full day and an evening of informal discussions was not enough for the World Intellectual Property Organization member states to reach agreement on the future work of the patent committee yesterday. Developed and developing countries held firm to their positions after reconvening in plenary past midnight, with disappointment as sole common ground.
World Health Assembly: Agreement Reached On Neglected Disease R&D Process, But No Convention 25/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments A proposal at this week’s World Health Assembly to negotiate a binding convention on research and development for neglected diseases – those predominantly afflicting poor populations – ran into resistance from developed countries which hold the view that another approach might be possible. But an agreement was reached on a way forward for the expert report that recommended the binding convention.