Analysis: Move To Contain Global Challenge By Ascending China At Play In Escalating Trade War Between Washington And Beijing 19/09/2018 by John Zarocostas for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The latest escalation in US-Sino trade tensions following the announcement by President Donald Trump on 17 September that the US will slap 10 percent punitive tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods imports effective on 24 September and increase them to 25 percent on 1 January 2019, and China’s counter-salvo announced on 18 September to impose tariffs of between 5 and 10 percent on $60 billion worth of US goods imports to kick in on 24 September may prove difficult to ease back from the brink.
Extended Monopolies On Biologic Drugs – A Warning To Developing Countries 10/09/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Historically, the US has been the primary demandeur of maximalist IP norms in FTAs. Pharmaceutical IP is market-driven, and this is no different for biologic drugs, which dominate the list of bestselling drugs worldwide, making them important economic commodities. Developing country governments must take note of the US pushing for biologics exclusivity through NAFTA as this signifies an effort to change norms worldwide.
African Health Ministers Approve Roadmap For Medicines Access, Framework To End Cholera 03/09/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Health ministers from the World Health Organization Africa region last week endorsed a roadmap for access for the years 2019-2023 concerning areas such as fair pricing, intellectual property management, and supply chain management. The previous day, they pledged to implement key strategies to end cholera outbreaks in the African region by 2030.
USTR: Mexico Agrees To Raise IP Enforcement Standards With The US 27/08/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Mexico and the United States have reached a preliminary agreement to raise standards of enforcement of intellectual property rights, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR). Among the terms, the agreement appears to toughen requirements for internet service providers in protecting against copyright theft and extend copyright terms, and might make it harder for Mexico to agree elsewhere to strengthen its protection of geographical indications.
US Considers Upping Stakes Again In Trade Dispute With China Over IP, Tech Transfer 01/08/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Trump administration today announced it is considering raising its proposed tariffs from 10 to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. The move is another in an attempt to get China to change the way it treats US companies including by alleging forcing transfer of technology and intellectual property.
New EPO Chief Outlines Priorities With Global Focus; Staff Wary But Hopeful 30/07/2018 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Antonio Campinos, whose term as president of the European Patent Office began on 1 July, has said he wants to focus on the effectiveness of the organisation, greater global cooperation and “staff engagement.”
The Myth Behind Health And Trade Agreements – Q&A With Othoman Mellouk 18/06/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 12 Comments Dr Othoman Mellouk is a Moroccan treatment advocate who has been working on intellectual property and access to medicines for more than a decade. He is the Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines Lead at the international treatment preparedness coalition (ITPC), a global network of people living with HIV and their advocates working together to achieve access to HIV and Viral Hepatitis and a member of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Committee on HIV and Hepatitis. Dr Mellouk started off in the Association for the Fight against AIDS which has been at the forefront of the response to HIV in Morocco and the introduction of the first anti-HIV generic medicines in the country. In a series supported by the Make Medicines Affordable organisation, Mellouk recently engaged in an interview with Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch. [Note: this interview is one of two. An interview with Carlos Correa will follow.]
US Imposes USD 50B In Tariffs On China For Forced IP/Tech Practices, Cybertheft 15/06/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States today released a list of products imported from China to the US on which additional tariffs will be placed as a measure aimed at pressuring China to change its practices the US says force US companies to give up intellectual property and transfer technology. Some industries have been dropped from the list such as pharmaceuticals, while a second list has now been announced, officials told reporters this morning.
World’s 5 Largest IP Offices Name Artificial Intelligence A Top Strategic Priority 15/06/2018 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The heads of the patent offices of China, Europe, Korea, Japan and the United States met today and declared artificial intelligence one of the top strategic priorities for them as a group. Other efforts included work on harmonising patent practices, the Global Dossier program, classification of new technologies, and patents and standards, according to a release.
Major Emerging Economies Push To Revive Discussions On Genetic Resources Misappropriation At WTO 12/06/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Efforts by developing countries to prevent the misappropriation of genetic resources and traditional knowledge have thus far been fruitless at the World Trade Organization. In particular, discussion on the relationship between the rules of the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing and the intellectual property trade rules are going nowhere. In this context, India, supported by other major developing nations, initiated a two-day conference recently in order to look at ways to unlock the situation.