EU Patent Jumps Parliamentary Committee Hurdle 27/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A proposal for a single patent system in the European Union through an “enhanced co-operation procedure” was approved by the EU Parliament Legal Affairs Committee today.
Midem Music Congress: The Two Universes Of The Music Business 26/01/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment CANNES – More help from governments, a hope for new cloud music services and new markets in emerging countries like Brazil. India and China were on the wish list of the big music labels and publishers at this week’s annual industry bash in Cannes, France. Technology companies and the newly invited hackers were more concerned with new ways to better access music and connecting artists and fans.
GSK Critiques Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement 25/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline has taken a stance on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), welcoming most of its provisions, but requesting a harmonised approach for implementation, because the much-debated agreement would leave a lot of space for differing national implementations. GSK warns in its paper against individual EU countries adopting ACTA into national law, something which […]
WHO Gears Up For Reform Driven By Financial Shortfall 25/01/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Executive Board session of the World Health Organization ended early on Monday after a week of discussions that settled some issues but left some others for the next governing meeting of the organisation in May, with much to do until then. The WHO is facing a significant gap in its budget and a programme of reforms is brewing.
Global Fund Faces Problems Of Fraud Among Recipients 24/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Today, the Global Fund sought to settle concerns about fraud involving millions of dollars it provided to several African countries. The fund had been strongly supported by developed countries for its direct model of providing funds for health work on the ground in developing countries, and evidence of corruption among recipients drew international attention.
Internet Governance Forum Leader Joins ISOC 24/01/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Markus Kummer, the long-time Swiss diplomat who has headed the secretariat to the multistakeholder Internet Governance Forum, has become vice president for public policy at the Internet Society in Geneva. The IGF was an outgrowth of the 2003-2005 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Despite being forbidden from being a venue for real negotiations […]
ACTA Inconsistent With European Law, Legal Experts Say 23/01/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The recently completed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is not fully consistent with European Union law and goes beyond international law in some of its aspects, concluded a group of intellectual property law experts from universities in Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Spain.
WHO R&D Financing Committee Approved With Controversial Industry Expert 22/01/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments World Health Organization members yesterday struck a compromise allowing a Swiss industry representative to sit on a committee selecting proposals for research and developing financing for neglected diseases, disregarding the fact that he is author of one of the proposals. Special safeguards were added to prevent undue influence, but questions remain for some about a conflict of interest.
WHO Members Show Dismay At Delay On Counterfeit Medicines Group 19/01/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments World Health Organization members today raised strong concerns that a working group they mandated last May to address problems with WHO policy on counterfeit and substandard medicines has yet to be formed – with four months remaining before it must report back to members. One delegation called for a halt to WHO activities on anti-counterfeiting until the outcome of the working group is accepted by member states.
2011: Renewed Fights Over Internet Control In A Post-Wikileaks World 19/01/2011 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments For many experts in internet governance the future of the multi-stakeholder model is the top issue in 2011. The participation of governments, technical experts, industry and civil society in discussions about how best to organise – and regulate – society on the net is at stake.