Google’s Neutrality Stance Tested Yet Again In Brazil 27/09/2012 by Maricel Estavillo for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The arrest of the president of Google’s operations in Brazil is the latest in a string of court decisions to test the neutrality stance of the search giant. Since its beginnings, Google has seen itself as an internet middleman, insisting that it should not be held legally liable for any defamatory or infringing content posted by its users.
Two Key Laws For The Public Domain Fare Differently In Argentine Congress 20/09/2012 by Maximiliano Marzetti for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Argentine Intellectual Property Act No. 11.723, which dates back to 1933, contains only one exception to copyright holders’ absolute power: the “droit de citation”, with an absolute maximum length of 1000 words or 8 bars for musical compositions, it must take into account the extension of the original work and is limited to certain non-profit uses only (education, research and the like).
Mexican IP Office Hopes To Persuade Senate On ACTA 15/07/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Mexican Intellectual Property Office (IMPI) last week announced that the Mexican Ambassador in Japan had signed the much debated Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. Now it thinks it can persuade the country’s new Senate to pass it.
Compulsory Licences Positive For The South, With Conditions, Study Finds 31/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Compulsory licences can provide an efficient way to decrease prices of drugs in developing countries but the conditions of issuance of a licence influence the benefits countries can derive from them, particularly if the countries have a technology gap, according to an economic model presented this week at the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Book Offers Timely Insights On IP, Drugs And Public Health In Developing Countries 25/04/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A recent book comes in time for the international policy debates coming to a head over access to medicines, intellectual property rights and public health in developing countries.
Trade And Development With A Dash Of IP: Conference To Set Course For UNCTAD 11/04/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The quadrennial conference of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) sets the course of the UN body work for the next four years. The mandate of the conference has evolved since its creation to become mainly a provider of research, policy analysis and technical assistance to developing countries. This time around, the conference will serve as a wide-ranging forum for trade and development issues, and intellectual property issues will haunt discussions in several areas.
Brazil HIV Drug Patent Ruling Allows Generics, Sends Pipeline Process Into Doubt 21/03/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Word is spreading of a recent decision by a Brazilian judge to annul a patent on a key AIDS drug, effectively allowing less expensive generic versions into the country, and calling into question other such patents.
Intérêt de l’entreprise et choix stratégiques : les licences concédées par Gilead au Medicines Patent Pool 14/03/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Bien que Gilead ait apporté des améliorations considérables à ses précédentes licences volontaires portant sur des médicaments antirétroviraux essentiels, les licences que l’entreprise a concédées au Medicines Patent Pool, fondation créée par UNITAID, comportent des restrictions regrettables qui fragilisent leur impact sur l’accès à des antirétroviraux génériques de qualité garantie plus abordables dans les pays en développement.
Brazil’s Leaked Copyright Reform Draft Bill Shows Latest Thinking 12/12/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Another chapter of the Brazilian copyright reform is out. The third version of the draft bill leaked a few days ago to a major newspaper in the country, and a handful of academics had access to it, writes Pedro Paranaguá.
Global Action To Open Generic Competition For Key AIDS Drug 16/11/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Public health advocates in a dozen countries worldwide have launched a coordinated campaign to bring about generic competition on a key medicine for HIV/AIDS, currently under patent by a pharmaceutical producer.