UN Office Of Drugs And Crime Enters Debate Over Fake Medicines And IP 09/12/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Vienna-based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been working for several years to fight “fraudulent” medicines in the global supply chain. But an alleged new draft model legislation it is developing includes intellectual property rights, an issue which has led to intensive debates in other international fora. This week, a closed-door UNODC informal expert group drafting the model legislation is meeting in Vienna.
Draft UN Post-2015 Development Goals: Future Must Not Be ‘Business As Usual’, Including IP Rights 07/12/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Last week’s United Nations draft report for the post-2015 sustainable development goals under negotiation calls for continued progress toward sweeping improvements in the lives of all people and the health of the planet, including ensuring that intellectual property rights are respected but do not get in the way.
Paper Proposes Access And Benefit Mechanisms To Help Implement Nagoya Protocol 04/12/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A recent paper proposes that countries use the access and benefit-sharing mechanism of the Nagoya Protocol to ensure conservation action and effective implementation of the protocol.
The Caravan Has Set Out For Neo-Liberal Capture Of Global Governance 17/11/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Net Mundial initiative of the World Economic Forum represents the first time that such a corporate-led venue – although sold as multistakeholder, open, and voluntary, among others – is positioned as being ‘the’ mechanism for global governance in a specific sector, the Just Net Coalition writes.
Kenyan Community Benefits From Its Genetic Resources 17/11/2014 by Hillary Muheebwa for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In Kenya, residents living around Lake Bogoria in Baringo County have received Kenya shillings 2.3 million, about USD 26,000, as royalties paid by a Danish bio-enzyme company.
World Customs Organization Adds To Anti-Counterfeiting System 05/11/2014 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The Brussels-based World Customs Organization has updated its online tool for field customs officers to communicate in real time with rights holders on counterfeiting of their brands. The WCO announced its partnership with another company providing authentication and traceability technologies, bringing over 30 additional top brands on board.
UNCTAD Forum: Local Drug Manufacturing A Key To Universal Health Coverage 16/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Local production of medicines in developing countries is key to advancing universal health coverage, but other factors need to be considered, such as the involvement of all stakeholders and policy coherence in governments, according to speakers attending the World Investment Forum this week. Several speakers called for a paradigm shift in global health.
EU Legislation On Nagoya Protocol Becomes Effective; What Effect On Indigenous Peoples’ Rights? 14/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The entry into force of an international treaty facilitating access to genetic resources and ensuring the fair sharing of potential commercial benefits has prompted the applicability of a European Union regulation relating to the treaty. This led a researcher to call on the treaty members to ensure its implementation protects the rights of indigenous and local communities.
Nagoya Protocol Enters Into Force, Will Be Tested In Months To Come 09/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments The Nagoya Protocol, a treaty expected to ensure greater access to genetic resources and a mandatory fair benefit-sharing of the benefits that could be derived from those resources, will enter into force on 12 October, almost four years after it was agreed.
WTO Director General Wants To Put Human Dimension In WTO Work 02/10/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevêdo opened the 2014 WTO Public Forum by saying trade is essential but the international trade system should provide a seat for everyone at the table. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon also insisted on the importance of a development-oriented international trade system.