Generic Drugmakers, Activists Praise Lamy; Gurry Defends ‘Respect’ For IP 11/12/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Generic pharmaceutical producers have grown in importance in recent years despite or because of intellectual property rights, and at their annual meeting this week in Geneva they attracted the leaders of the primary intergovernmental institutions engaged in IP rights policy. Generic industry representatives and access to medicines activists praised an opening speech […]
An Alternative Proposal For Enhancing Developing Country Access To Patented Medicines 10/12/2008 by Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch An intellectual property model intended to preserve the structure of patent protection while adding balance for developing countries has been proposed to provide incentives for innovators to contribute toward the alleviation of suffering in developing countries in dire need of patented medicines largely owned by rich countries. This […]
Lamy Challenges Discontented WTO Members To Use TRIPS Public Health Review 09/12/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Confronted with longstanding assertions that World Trade Organization rules intended to bring greater access to medicines to poor countries are not working, WTO Director General Pascal Lamy said Tuesday discontented members should use the annual review of those rules if they have a complaint. “It is precisely to address these kinds of […]
Droits de propriété intellectuelle et organismes génétiquement modifiés : une combinaison fatale selon les activistes 09/12/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Catherine Saez L’extension des brevets aux organismes génétiquement modifiés (OGM) et leur production dans de nombreux pays menacent les droits des agriculteurs et la biodiversité, la sécurité alimentaire dépendant de plus en plus d’une poignée d’entreprises transnationales de biotechnologie, selon les intervenants à un atelier qui s’est déroulé récemment à Genève. L’atelier a été […]
Propiedad intelectual y organismos modificados genéticamente: una combinación que los activistas consideran fatídica 08/12/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Catherine Saez Según los oradores de un reciente taller llevado a cabo en Ginebra, debido a la expansión del alcance de las patentes de organismos modificados genéticamente (OMG) y la aplicación de dichos cultivos en la mayoría de los países, los derechos de los agricultores y la biodiversidad están en riesgo, mientras que la […]
WTO: Progress On IP At Last; Consensus Still Uncertain 05/12/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Kaitlin Mara Delegates negotiating on intellectual property issues at the World Trade Organization were able to set aside procedural debates Friday and focus on substantive technical issues in the body tasked with creating a multilateral register for geographical indications on wines and spirits. The European Union, in a marathon intervention, provided answers to over […]
Debate Over EU Finding That Pharmaceutical Firms Abusing Patent System 05/12/2008 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – Leading pharmaceutical companies are using the patent system to delay the entry of generic medicines onto the market, the European Commission has alleged, sparking a debate at a conference held here this week. In spring 2009, the EU’s executive branch will present the findings of an […]
WTO IP Negotiations Lengthen As New Questions Put On Table 05/12/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara The body at the World Trade Organization tasked with negotiating a multilateral register for geographically-named wines and spirits began what could be several days of meetings Thursday with a question and answer session meant to find common understanding, but instead revealed just how deep the divide remains between the two sides. Sixty-one […]
Discussions Continue In Informal WTO Special Session On GI Register 02/12/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara The World Trade Organization body mandated to discuss a registry for geographical indications met Monday, with the only resulting agreement being to meet again later this week for further, more technical, discussions. Several ambassadors were present at the meeting, according to sources, indicating that in the lead-up to a possible ministerial this […]
IP And Genetically Modified Organisms: A Fateful Combination, Activists Say 02/12/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Catherine Saez With the expanding scope of patents on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the implementation of such crops in most countries, farmers’ rights and biodiversity are at risk, and food security has become dependent on a few transnational biotechnological companies, according to speakers at a recent workshop in Geneva. The workshop was hosted […]