Recent Personnel Changes In Geneva 26/05/2011 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Recent weeks have seen several personnel changes at Geneva institutions working on international intellectual property rights and innovation, including at missions, international organisations and foundations.
WHO Set On Reform Path With Concerns; Pandemic Plan Agreed, Counterfeits Not 24/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments After ten days of discussions, country delegates closed the annual World Health Assembly today with the adoption of a set of decisions, one of which is a drastic programme of reforms that is intended to restore the World Health Organization’s central place in public health governance.
EU Commission Flexes Enforcement Muscles With New IPR Strategy 24/05/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Commission today published a strategy intended to boost the economy by analysing and applying polish to European Union rules on intellectual property rights, including increased attention to enforcement with a crackdown on small shipments from internet purchases.
US Promotes Multilateral System Of Internet Governance In Geneva 24/05/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Betty King, United States Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, has declared US support for a multilateral system of internet governance and an open internet.
Official: WHO Budget Cuts Not Likely To Impact Work On Innovation, IP 23/05/2011 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Significant budget cuts being approved this week at the World Health Organization will not affect programmes related to intellectual property rights, innovation and public health, a WHO official has told Intellectual Property Watch. In fact, the WHO is intensifying its work in these areas.
WHO Needs Another Year To Solve Differences On Fake Medicines, Committee Decides 23/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Country delegates gathered Saturday at the World Health Assembly decided to give another year to a working group in charge of making recommendations on falsified medicines. Unanimously, countries decided that more time is needed to reach consensual recommendations, in particular on the prickly issue of intellectual property rights.
Workplan Of WHO Group On Neglected Diseases R&D Shows Timeline 23/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A World Health Organization expert working group on innovative financing of research and development for diseases particularly affecting developing countries will present its inception report and work plan this week.
WHO Members On Verge Of New Framework For Pandemic Flu Response 23/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Enthusiasm and relief were palpable at the World Health Assembly last week when member states in committee adopted a resolution on global preparedness in case of influenza pandemic, and in particular on the sharing of viruses and access to vaccines for developing countries.
WHO Reform Mandate, Pandemic Report Clear Hurdles 20/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A committee of member governments of the World Health Organization this week adopted a resolution on the future financing of the organisation and a broad set of reforms, as well as a resolution on the WHO’s management of a recent influenza pandemic showing no evidence of wrongdoing.
WIPO Patent Law Committee: New Health Proposal, Tech Transfer Tensions 19/05/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members this week are engaged in substantive discussions on patent policy, including a first look at a developing country proposal on public health, a surprising debate over technology transfer, and details of a questionnaire on exceptions and limitations to patents. Also responses to first feedback on a new proposal on patent quality are expected to emerge shortly.