Uganda Parliament Passes Bill To Promote Use Of Genetically Modified Materials, Biotech 03/11/2017 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments KAMPALA, Uganda — Several genetically modified crops that are more resilient to drought, flooding, saline or acid soils and temperature extremes resulting from climate change are already being researched in Uganda and are in advanced stages. The enactment of an enabling law, the Uganda National Biosafety Bill 2017, is intended to enhance the development of modern biotechnology.
WIPO Trademark Committee Agrees On Work Programme For GIs, Action On Country Names 02/11/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Statements were praiseful at the close of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on trademarks, industrial designs, and geographical indications meeting this week. After a number of unsuccessful past sessions, delegates agreed on a work programme on geographical indications. They also decided on a half-day information session on the examination by trademark offices of requests including country names, during the next session of the committee.
The User Rights Database: Measuring The Impact Of Copyright Balance 01/11/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments PIJIP’s Copyright User Rights Database tracks changes to copyright user rights (aka limitations and exceptions) over time in a sample of 21 countries of different development levels. The data assesses the degree to which other countries have adopted exceptions that are as open as the US fair use right – i.e. open to a use of any kind of work, by any kind of user and for any purpose. The instrument and results are available at infojustice.org/survey.
New WHO 5-Year Programme Is Out. In The Recipe? SDGs, Access To Medicines, Innovation, Better Health For All 01/11/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The new leadership of the World Health Organization today issued its draft new programme of work for the next five years. The programme depicts new orientations for the global health actor, starting with the alignment of the programme with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and universal health coverage. The organisation also commits to help establish policies promoting access to health products, including generic medicines, innovation, and fair pricing. The WHO is set to help address innovation barriers, and to step up its global leadership, but asks that its members actually fully finance the budget that they approve.
Group Of Nations Seeks To Boost Help For Small Companies At WTO 01/11/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises represent the bulk of the global economic fabric, but they face many impediments to joining the global marketplace. An informal group of countries is bringing the conversation into the World Trade Organization, to see how it can help small companies integrate international trade. They submitted a draft decision for the upcoming WTO Ministerial Conference in December. A workshop this week looked at challenges and possible remedies at the national and international level.
E-Commerce Needs Special Rules, WTO The Place For It, Officials Say 31/10/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Electronic commerce is flourishing, but countries are not benefitting equally from this windfall. An event held this week at the World Trade Organization looked at the role of the WTO in the establishment of global rules for e-commerce, while WTO member states themselves disagree on the urgency to establish a new work programme, just weeks before the next WTO ministerial.
MSF Secures Deals For Key Hepatitis C Medicines, Price A Fraction Of Branded Drug 31/10/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) announced today that it has secured deals for two key generic hepatitis C medicines, dropping prices dramatically.
Retail Giant Amazon Faces Pushback Over .Amazon Geographic Domain At ICANN Annual Meeting 30/10/2017 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments ABU DHABI, UAE — Government representatives from several countries in the Amazonas region clashed with a team of lawyers and communication officers of the global retailer Amazon over the top-level domain .amazon during the Annual Meeting of the Internet Corporation For Assigned Names Numbers (ICANN) in Abu Dhabi today.
New Worldwide Compilation Of GIs Launched: Helping To Bridge Two Approaches? 30/10/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network (oriGIn) launched a worldwide compilation of geographical indications today at the World Intellectual Property Organization. The compilation, which lists over 7,000 geographical indications, beyond providing a technical tool, is also presented as a tool of reconciliation.
UNCTAD Shows Role As Convenor On Investment In Antimicrobial Resistance 30/10/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) this month gathered a wide range of key stakeholders to have a frank discussion about how to solve rising global resistance to existing antibiotics. While not a negotiation, stakeholders in the expert group opened up and shared perspectives, leading to some informal conclusions. Among them: more public and private investment, and a shift in the R&D system to new-style incentives, are needed.