Japan Proposes New IP Enforcement Treaty 15/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Lyon, France–Japan has proposed an international treaty to combat worldwide counterfeiting and piracy, complementing the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The proposal came at a 14-15 November conference near Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France, where the TRIPS agreement was characterised by some participants as a minimal pact lacking […]
US Tech Industry Lobbyist Dodges “Wild West” Of WSIS 15/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment To get a sense of how this week’s second UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunisia is different from the first WSIS held two years ago, one need only talk to a US technology industry lobbyist who this year decided to stay away. “People keep asking me what am I doing here,” […]
Workshop Highlights IP Hindrances For Avian Flu Drug Stockpiles 14/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Panelists at a Geneva workshop on intellectual property issues related to a possible avian influenza pandemic argued that IP rules and prices could make it difficult for nations to prepare sufficient stockpiles. Panelists argued that practical problems could arise with the application of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights […]
WHO: Patents Won’t Block Access To Avian Flu Medicines 10/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organisation does not think patents will stand in the way of an effective public health action in the event of an outbreak of avian flu in humans because pharmaceutical companies have showed a willingness to co-operate, a senior UN official said on 9 November. Margaret Chan, the WHO director-general’s representative for pandemic […]
Los Estados miembros de la OMPI reclaman medidas en materia de recursos humanos y financieros 10/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Los Estados miembros de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) instaron a que la misma adopten una serie de recomendaciones independientes con el fin de sanear la gestión de la OMPI en materia de finanzas y recursos humanos. Los miembros también tomaron nota de una auditoría externa de la organización. La OMPI es […]
Asamblea de la OMPI renueva el Programa para el Desarrollo, Debates sobre patentes 10/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Octubre de 2005 Los Estados miembros de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual dieron nuevas órdenes de marcha al organismo de Naciones Unidas en áreas fundamentales de programas, presupuesto y administración. Los representantes de más alto nivel de los países ante la OMPI eludieron los asuntos más difíciles, y trataron más bien de encontrar […]
Global Focus Emerges On Avian Flu 08/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Strategy for a possible outbreak of avian flu has been elevated from a national to an international level with a high-level meeting on a “plan of action” being held this week at the World Health Organisation. Intellectual property rights are on the agenda, but the focus during the first day and a half was bio-security […]
Industry Concerned About Development Agenda At WIPO 04/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment At the recent World Intellectual Property Organisation General Assembly, an effort by some developing countries to increase WIPO’s orientation toward development issues met with a lobbying campaign by representatives of developed country industries that would be affected by the reform. The issue cuts across a number of industries invested in intellectual property rights, including pharmaceuticals, […]
EU Elevates Geographical Indications As Priority For Hong Kong 28/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Geographical indications (GIs) have become a political issue and a key priority for the European Union in the run-up to the December World Trade Organization ministerial in Hong Kong as GIs today officially became part of the EU’s agriculture package. As the EU proposed further cuts in its agriculture sector as part of the current […]
TRIPS Council Issues Still Alive For WTO Ministerial 28/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization committee handling intellectual property issues finished four days of meetings with minimal progress in real terms, but kept several issues alive for the December WTO ministerial in Hong Kong. The WTO Council on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) met from 25 to 28 October. Issues still […]