WHO Kicks Off Talks On Flu Pandemic, Benefits, Access To Vaccines 21/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New The politically explosive issue of ensuring everyone benefits from vaccines in the event of an influenza pandemic is the subject of a negotiation underway at the World Health Organization this week. The work of the member governments calls into question a longstanding WHO system for global sharing of disease strains, and involves […]
WHO Elevates IP Issues To Director General’s Office; Zucker To Depart 20/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The World Health Organization, which has intensively debated intellectual property rights issues in recent years, has restructured its management of the issues, elevating IP to the director general’s office. “[The restructuring] shows the importance that the director general is giving to this particular issue, and reinforces what WHO is already doing in […]
WIPO Director’s Planned Early Departure Draws Mixed Reactions 20/11/2007 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New When Kamil Idris, the director general of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization, informed staff last week that the process for electing his successor would occur one year early, it was met with mixed reactions. It also is likely to be met with a torrent of politicking for the next DG. […]
New Open Letter From Staff To The Director General Of WIPO 19/11/2007 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This item has been removed on request of WIPO.
Open Standards, Access To Knowledge Discussed At IGF 19/11/2007 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch RIO DE JANEIRO – Intellectual property-related issues were a topic avoided by governments during the 2003-2005 World Summit on the Information Society, which gave way to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF). But at the second IGF in Rio de Janeiro last week there were several IP-related workshops. Organisers […]
French Industry Attacks Private Copy Fees As Levy Debate Grows 16/11/2007 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Makers and distributors of digital storage products and audiovisual media last week urged France’s highest administrative court to kill private copy levies on technologies for transferring data such as USB keys, external hard disks and memory cards. The challenges, filed 9 November in the Conseil d’Etat by e-merchant Rue du Commerce and the Syndicat des Industries de Mat�riels Audiovisuels Electroniques (SIMAVELEC), contend that the lack of harmonised levies among European Union countries violates EU law and hurts online sellers. The legal action came one day after the European Grouping of Societies of Authors and Composers (GESAC) argued that non-payment of levies should be made a criminal offence.
Grupo de salud y propiedad intelectual de la OMS cierra reunión con sustancial progreso 14/11/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por William New Los Estados miembros de la Organización Mundial de la Salud culminaron una intensa semana de negociaciones sobre las formas de mejorar el acceso al cuidado de la salud para las poblaciones más pobres con un significativo avance dentro de un marco. Pero queda pendiente un trabajo arduo para la próxima sesión, dijeron […]
La réunion du groupe de travail de l’OMS sur la santé et la propriété intellectuelle a donné lieu à des progrès essentiels 14/11/2007 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment William New Les gouvernements membres de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) ont achevé une semaine de négociations intense sur la manière d’améliorer l’accès des populations les plus démunies aux soins médicaux. Ils ont notamment réalisé des progrès considérables concernant l’élaboration d’un plan d’action. Cependant, les participants ont confié que le travail à accomplir lors […]
Internet Governance Forum: Test Of A New Global Governance Model 14/11/2007 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch RIO DE JANEIRO – The debate over whether the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) should grow beyond its no-decisions, dialogue-only capacity was under consideration from the opening of the meeting here Monday. While a majority of participants from the various stakeholder groups at the meeting agree with the mandate, […]
Developed Countries Close Some Gaps Between Patent Systems 13/11/2007 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch WASHINGTON, DC – The patent offices of the United States, Europe and Japan have agreed to coordinate work-sharing, improve the quality of patent applications and work on other ways to standardise procedures aimed at reducing the offices’ workloads. The memorandum of understanding was announced on Friday at […]