Innovation Occurs In Informal Economy, Needs Policy Framework, Panellists Say 03/06/2014 by Maëli Astruc for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Findings of a World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) project show that innovation occurs in the informal sector, and generates employment and development. Panellists at a recent side event to the CDIP called on policymakers to be mindful of this sector and implement policy frameworks, in particular in developing countries.
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.
WIPO Committee On Development Has To Settle Again For Meagre Results 26/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development closed last week with little to show after a week of unyielding opposing positions on every sensitive issue by several countries. Frustration was palpable as those issues were sent to the next session for further discussions, with the risk of renewed disagreement.
World Health Assembly Approves Plan To Strengthen Access To Essential Medicines 24/05/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch, Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 2 Comments World Health Organization members tonight approved a resolution aimed at improving access to essential medicines. Agreement came after a compromise on a proposed provision referencing other medicines that are not qualified as essential medicines.
WHA: Experts Discuss Innovation, Access For Middle Income Countries 23/05/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch and Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Country officials, academics and leading global health advocates this week raised one of the key concerns of this year’s World Health Assembly: innovation and access to medicines in middle-income countries. Government procurement strategies, voluntary and compulsory licensing, de-linkage models and UNITAID mechanisms were among some of the solutions put forward.
World Health Assembly Approves Resolution On Combatting Tuberculosis 22/05/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Assembly on 21 May approved a resolution on global strategy and targets for tuberculosis prevention, care and control after 2015, which includes a new multisectoral strategic approach and bold targets to bring an end to the global epidemic by 2035.
Gates Foundation Echoes WHO Concern Over Medicines Access In Trade Deals 20/05/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation addressed the World Health Assembly today, highlighting a new initiative on newborns. And at a press conference earlier in the day, a senior colleague signalled support for WHO Director General Margaret Chan’s strong concern yesterday about possible negative effects of free trade agreements on access to affordable medicines.
BRICS Ministers Join Forces For Access To Medicines 20/05/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment At a side event to the opening of the 2014 World Health Assembly, strong statements were made by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) country ministers and representatives to assume leadership and cooperate to tackle the issue of inaccessibility to affordable medicines in theirs and developing countries.
Committee On WIPO Standards Stumbles Over Development Agenda 20/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization technical committee working on standards to facilitate work of intellectual property offices and their communication had to adjourn its fourth session last week for lack of agreement on the committee’s relationship to the 2007 Development Agenda of the organisation.
Independent Review Of WIPO Development Up For Debate 20/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property opened this week with a loaded agenda and some politically-charged issues. One of them is an independent assessment of the mandated mainstreaming of a development dimension into the activities of the UN organisation.