South African Trade Minister Davies: Election Result May Mean Fast Action On IP Policy 29/05/2014 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property pundits have welcomed South African President Jacob Zuma’s decision to retain Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies in the position following South Africa’s May general elections. And Davies in an interview this week signalled that completing the national intellectual property policy may be a top priority.
Author Interview: “Emerging Markets And The World Patent Order” 21/05/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment “Emerging Markets and the World Patent Order” is a new book that looks at patent system implementation in emerging market and developing countries, and the response to this implementation by Europe and the United States. Florida State University Law Prof. Frederick Abbott, one of the organisers and editors of the book, recently discussed the book with Intellectual Property Watch
New Initiative To Address Lack Of Paediatric-Specific HIV Treatments 19/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the World Health Assembly, a new partnership has been launched by three major public health actors in the field of HIV treatment. The initiative is meant to find improved treatments for children suffering from HIV/AIDs. Although all actors agree that significant progress has been made on adult treatments, children-specific medicines are still lacking.
UPOV Approves ARIPO Draft Legislation Spreading Plant Variety Protection To Africa 15/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The African Regional Intellectual Property Office last week obtained a positive decision at the international level on its draft law to protect new varieties of plants. Amid protest from civil society, the regional office now has to adopt the draft law and has said it would convene a diplomatic conference (high-level negotiation) in 2014 in order to do so.
East African Community Moves To Harmonise IP Rights Regulation 11/04/2014 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments KAMPALA – As the East African Community nears full revival, a bloc market covering five countries with a population of about 145 million people has emerged. But the member countries face another challenge: they have different levels of intellectual property rights protection.
UPOV To Examine ARIPO Legislation On Plant Variety Protection 08/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Several committees of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) will meet this week. One of them is called to assess a draft legal framework on plant variety protection from the African Regional Intellectual Property Office (ARIPO). The draft legislation has drawn ire from civil society who charge that it is detrimental to small farmers and who argue that ARIPO does not have legitimacy to become a UPOV member.
New South Africa IP Policy Unlikely Before May Elections 08/04/2014 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment South Africa’s upcoming general elections on 7 May have thrown a spanner in the works of the much-anticipated national draft intellectual property policy from coming into effect anytime soon.
Global Fund And Tiered Medicines Pricing Under Debate 07/04/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has launched an initiative with other agencies aimed at expanding global access to health products such as medicines. But the Fund has had some explaining to do about the initiative, which some say could encompass a plan to allow different prices based on national income levels.
MPP Drug Licensing Deal Brings Hope For Greater Access To HIV Treatments 04/04/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) this week announced two new licencing agreements with the private sector joint venture ViiV Healthcare that will increase access to a new antiretroviral in countries hardest hit by HIV.
Africa-EU Businesses, International Organisations Send Recommendations On Health To Leaders 02/04/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment Representatives of private sector, international organisations and others from Europe and Africa this week delivered a set of recommendations on health and pharmaceuticals to the two regions’ leaders ahead of their summit taking place today and tomorrow.