WTO Review Finds Brazil Progressing On Trade Policy, IP Rights Protection 11/03/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Brazil, once criticised for lax intellectual property rights protection, has been stepping up implementation and enforcement of international IP rules in recent years, a World Trade Organization body announced Wednesday. But some major rights-holding nations urged the government to undertake further work.
WIPO Faces Possible Negative Annual Income Despite Record Trademark Filings 10/03/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization is facing the possibility of negative income for the first time in its history, the United Nations agency’s director general said Monday. Director General Francis Gurry made the remarks during a press conference on its annual report on trademark filings at WIPO in 2008 that showed a new record high for trademark registrations but signs of a slowdown late in the year.
European Generic Industry Concern Over Potential Barrier To Legitimate Medicines 09/03/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A letter to the European Commissioner from the European Generic Medicines Association expresses concern about the detention of medicines in the Netherlands while en route from India to Brazil. While counterfeit medicines deserve “criminal and civil sanctions” as well as seizures, the letter says, “alleged patent infringement cannot be confused with counterfeit and public health […]
WTO Session Tackles Details Of Future Register Of GI Products 06/03/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A World Trade Organization group tasked with creating a register for highly protected names of wines and spirits associated with geographical locations buckled down Thursday to a technical discussion on what it would look like. The focus on these issues sidestepped some broader political questions that have delayed these talks, but fundamental disagreements also remain over the register’s parameters.
Concerns Continue Over Generic Drug Seizures As Legality Debates Begin 05/03/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 2 Comments Developing nations led by Brazil and India, along with public health providers and advocates, this week continue to press strong concern over seizures of legitimate shipments of generic pharmaceuticals destined for poor patients in the developing world. Raising the issue at the World Trade Organization again, they say new research into numerous shipments of legitimate drugs delayed by authorities in the Netherlands have elevated doubts and may mean potentially thousands of patients put at risk.
Enforcement, Creative R&D Financing Priority Issues For Public Health in 2009 25/02/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The number and intensity of debates over the role of intellectual property rights in public health is set to increase in 2009. New leadership and new mandates for key intergovernmental organisations implemented last year have created opportunity for change. And while old debates over the balance between IP rights and access to health products are not going away, this year will see more exploration at the intergovernmental level of different systems to stimulate innovation.
Industry Pushes For Biosimilars Approval Process; Some IGOs Take Notice 24/02/2009 by Kiernan A. Murphy for Intellectual Property Watch and Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Key players in the biotechnology industry are leading an effort to obtain global approval processes for generic biological medicines, which experts say could provide cheaper access to costly but widely prescribed and promising treatments.
Las estrictas disposiciones comerciales de la UE sobre PI representan una amenaza para el acceso de los países pobres a los medicamentos 24/02/2009 by David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment BRUSELAS- Los esfuerzos de la Unión Europea para introducir disposiciones firmes en materia de patentes farmacéuticas en una serie de acuerdos de libre comercio que está negociando podrían poner en peligro el acceso a los medicamentos en los países en desarrollo, según han afirmado activistas de la salud pública a nivel mundial.
IP Policy Issues May See Progress In A Changed US Landscape This Year 23/02/2009 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As the United States battles an economic meltdown, items like economic stimulus and home foreclosure relief are taking centre stage. Congress also is still working to confirm President Obama’s nominees. But once those items are dealt with, issues such as patent reform and intellectual property enforcement are expected to be hot-button items once again.
International Health Groups Warn WHO, WTO On Medicines Seizures 21/02/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments Leading international public health advocates have sent letters to the heads of the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization calling on them to act to prevent possible circumvention of international trade rules for intellectual property rights relating to shipments of legal generic drugs bound for developing countries.