Side Event On UN High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines Next Week At WTO 23/02/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment As the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee meeting next week is expected to discuss the report of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines next week, a group of developing countries is convening a side event to engage in discussion with members of the panel. The report included several direct recommendations to WTO members.
New WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement Seen Benefiting Developing Nations, Global Trade 23/02/2017 by Peter Kenny for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Multilateral institutions have received a lift with the realization of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement that is expected to provide a boost to sluggish international commerce by cutting out clogging regulations. Image Credits: Peter Kenny
Split Over DMCA Safe Harbour Continues To Roil US Copyright Office Reform Efforts 23/02/2017 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Internet service providers and copyright owners remain deeply divided over the effectiveness of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act safe harbour provisions, they said in additional submissions to a US Copyright Office inquiry.
Momentum-Building: An Interview With Ruth Dreifuss On High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines 22/02/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, co-chair of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, participated in a Geneva event on rare diseases earlier this month. She agreed to answer Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez about the High-Level Panel report, in particular how it was received by the international community, her take on criticisms that have been voiced, and the importance that the report be discussed at the international level such as the World Health Assembly.
Kenyan Regulator Cancels Leading Collective Management Licence To Streamline Music Royalties 22/02/2017 by Fredrick Nzwili for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NAIROBI, Kenya — In a move meant to streamline the collection of music royalties in Kenya, the government regulator declined to renew a 2017 licence for a leading collective organisation over unmet standards.
TRIPS Council To Consider The Two Sides Of IP – Innovation Booster And Barrier 21/02/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The role of intellectual property in innovation is expected to be considered through different lenses at the upcoming meeting of the World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property. A group of developed countries have proposed an agenda item on inclusive innovation in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, while discussions are expected on the report of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, and a side event featuring High-Level Panel members has been convened by a group of developing countries. Electronic commerce, and in particular copyright issues and electronic signatures are also on the agenda next week.
European Commission Public Consultation On Plan To Fight Antimicrobial Resistance 21/02/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The European Commission has launched a call for comments on its proposed plan to help EU members fight antimicrobial resistance.
In US, New Tactics To Combat Online Copyright Infringement 21/02/2017 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The death was quick, quiet, and unmourned. The Copyright Alert System – a once vaunted plan to stop online copyright infringement in the US – was killed on 27 January. Lasting only four years, CAS had accomplished little and satisfied no one, according to many experts. What went wrong? And what is the movie and music industries’ next plan to combat online infringement?
ARIPO, OAPI To Harmonise Practices On Intellectual Property In Africa 21/02/2017 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and its sister organisation, Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle [African Intellectual Property Organization] (OAPI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to harmonise the intellectual property systems of the two institutions.
Health Security An Integral Part Of International Security, Experts Warn 20/02/2017 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Microsoft founder and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Bill Gates called on governments gathered at the annual Munich Security Conference this week to not “ignore the link between health security and international security.”