The EU-Thailand FTA: What Fate For Access To Medicines? 12/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Following the public outcry over the EU’s demands for stringent intellectual property rules that would dramatically raise medicines prices in India, you would expect the EU to think twice about making similar demands in future trade agreements, particularly with low- and middle-income countries. Yet, this is precisely what is going on now in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Thailand, writes Tessel Mellema.
Medicines Patent Pool Strikes Deal With Bristol-Myers Squibb 12/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Medicines Patent Pool today announced a new agreement with biopharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb for an HIV medicine, which is expected to increase access in 110 developing countries.
Convergence Of Who’s Who In IP, Innovation, Public Interest In Africa 12/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Academics, advocates, lawyers, government officials and others meeting this week have heard of the launch of several new books and research tools to better understand the relationship of intellectual property, development and social issues. In particular, discussion in the early part of the conference focussed on a book revealing evidence from extensive primary research on the ground in 13 countries across the continent.
Michelle Lee Named USPTO Deputy Director, Will Serve As Acting Director 11/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment United States Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker today announced Michelle K. Lee as the next deputy director of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), starting in January. In the absence of a director at USPTO, she will also serve as acting director.
WIPO Agrees To 2014-2015 Programme And Budget After Discussion On External Offices 10/12/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In the nick of time, the World Intellectual Property Organization has agreed on a budget for the new biennium – which starts in three weeks.
Concerns Raised To Global Fund Over Panel On Tiered Medicines Pricing 10/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Public groups this week urged Mark Dybul, head of the Geneva-based Global Fund for HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to reconsider the establishment of a panel to look at tiered pricing for middle income countries, potentially allowing companies to charge them higher prices. And separately, activists reported on progress in South Africa’s HIV strategy.
Crowdfunding ‘Operation Ninja STAR’ Arms Small Business Against Patent ‘Trolls’ 10/12/2013 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Small businesses form the backbone of the American economy, but many see patent assertion entities (PAEs), or, “patent trolls” and troll lawsuits as serious wrenches thrown into these economic engines of innovation and ideas. So, Article One Partners (AOP), a global patent research community that crowdsources its research for tech giants and law firms the likes of Microsoft and Google, today launched “Operation Ninja STAR,” a crowdfunding effort to help small businesses defend themselves against PAEs behaving badly.
IPRs An Issue In Latest HIV Treatment Monitoring Test, Group Says 10/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – Intellectual property rights represent a hurdle to lower-priced, high quality tests of HIV treatment monitoring in developing countries, public health group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors without Borders) said today.
Statement From TPP Ministers Shows Agreement May Be Near 10/12/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Trade ministers of the 12 countries negotiating a Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP) today issued a statement signalling a breakthrough on the treaty, but lacking specifics.
Leaked Documents Show Tough Road To Completion Of TPP 10/12/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The far-reaching Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement may be even more ambitious than previously thought. A newly leaked alleged recent memorandum and chart giving a rare view of country positions from inside the closed negotiating room showed the 12 countries to be far apart on many issues, especially intellectual property rights, heading into this week’s talks in Singapore. And they suggest the United States is facing pushback to its vigorous efforts to get those differences resolved quickly.