GI Proponents Assess Progress, Challenges; French Minister Blasts Large-Scale Agriculture 24/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Bordeaux, France – In a stronghold of French gastronomy and famous regional products an industry organisation lobbying for the protection of geographical indications chose this week to convene its general assembly and set the goals for future actions.
WHO Should Have The Evidence? Ben Goldacre Refutes WHO Director’s Claim 24/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments “Bad Science” adversary and journalist, Dr Ben Goldacre, this week challenged WHO Director of Ethics and Social Determinants of Health, Dr Rüdiger Krech, on his understanding of published evidence.
World Health Assembly: Groups Seek To Return Focus To ‘Broken’ Medical R&D System 24/05/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch and William New Leave a Comment The issue of access to medicines is on the agenda at this week’s World Health Assembly (WHA) and public health advocates are seeking greater clarity and detail about the latest member state effort to address failings in the global system of research and development for medical products.
EPO Still Granting Patents On Conventional Vegetables; ‘Just Following Rules’ 24/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The European Patent Office is continuing to grant patents on conventional plants despite demands from the European Parliament and the German Parliament that the patent office refrain from granting such patents, the coalition of non-governmental organisations called “No patents on seeds” said in a release.
EU Parliament Backs Start Of Transatlantic FTA Negotiations 23/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Parliament today voted in favour of a resolution welcoming the start of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). With 460 votes in favour, 105 against – mainly the Green Party Group and the Left – and 28 abstentions, the resolution passed after a heated debate Wednesday night. The majority allowed for the flexibility asked for by EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht in the debate but nevertheless requested to “exclude cultural and audiovisual services, including those provided online.”
World Health Assembly: Draft Of NCD Action Plan Shows Compromises On IPRs 23/05/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Negotiators worked late last night to reach some compromise on the intellectual property-related component of the emerging World Health Organization action plan on noncommunicable diseases.
World Health Assembly: Drafting Group Progressing On NCDs 22/05/2013 by Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Members of the World Health Organization this week have made noncommunicable diseases a top priority, and work on a draft resolution and action plan is being carried out by a drafting group that will report back later in the week.
Parliament Members Call For Removal Of Conditions In WIPO Treaty For Blind 22/05/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Members of all political party groups in the European Parliament in a debate in Strasbourg yesterday asked the European Commission to scrap several conditions demanded by the European Union and other Western countries in the World Intellectual Property Organization negotiations for the draft treaty on copyright exceptions for the blind and visually impaired.
Special Report: Big Trading Blocs Moving At Breakneck Pace To Raise Free Trade Standards 22/05/2013 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The pace to negotiate bilateral or plurilateral free trade agreements has been accelerating rapidly over the last month as the big trading blocs seem eager to position themselves in the race for market access and standards. China, Japan and Korea in March hurried to open their first official round of negotiations (CJK), just in time to edge ahead of Japan’s joining the negotiations of an enlarged Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and also ahead of the official start of a Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) announced by the European Union and the United States earlier this year. Meanwhile, a concerned Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) rushed to counter these ventures with their own competitive bid by starting detailed talks on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in Brunei Daressalam.
WIPO Unveils Results Of Training Department Assessment, But Keeps Document Secret 21/05/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization training arm has been undergoing an external assessment which was presented to member states during the organisation’s committee on development last week.