Drug Safety Needs Global Cooperation Of Drug Regulators, Officials Say 19/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On the eve of the World Health Assembly, the permanent mission of Brazil organised an informal meeting on sanitary regulation and how to improve cooperation among drug regulatory agencies. Major stakeholders were invited to present challenges and ongoing efforts to improve global quality, safety and efficacy of medical products.
At WSIS Forum, Divisions Arise Over Future Of Internet Governance 19/05/2012 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2012 was hailed as a success at its closing ceremony today by the secretary general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Yet sharp debates about the reluctance of the UN to hire an executive secretary for the Internet Governance Forum, the reluctance of the ITU to allow the global public to see and contribute to the coming International Telecommunication Regulations (ITR), and the need for a new UN platform for enhanced cooperation clearly illustrated that the global internet governance ship is cruising through rough seas.
US Licensing Experts: Innovation Is Still Happening, Let’s Help It Along 18/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BOSTON – Early stage innovation is still strong in the United States, but parties need to work better together and address bottlenecks in the middle stages, a panel of university and private sector experts said this week. Meanwhile, the president of global biotechnology company Genzyme said the industry is not in crisis and the company is hopeful about its recent merger with Sanofi.
South Africa Hopes New Bill Brings Traditional Knowledge Protection 17/05/2012 by Linda Daniels for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments The Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill currently in the in-tray of South African President Jacob Zuma and awaiting a signature, holds the hope that it will finally pave the way for the protection of the country’s most famous red tea, Rooibos, as well as other local staples.
15 Years Later, Prospects For WTO Information Technology Agreement Examined 15/05/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization this week celebrated 15 years of a tariff-cutting agreement on information technology products, and issued a publication charting the history of the agreement. Industry representatives invited to a symposium joined voices asking that the agreement be expanded, while some called for strategies to incorporate development into technology trade promotion. And a link was made between the agreement and a rise in patents on technology.
Full Agenda For WHO: Reform, R&D Convention, Substandard Medicines, NCDs, Pandemics 02/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With just over two weeks until the annual UN World Health Assembly begins, member states face a substantive agenda, including a sweeping reform programme, an innovative public health proposal, the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, a mechanism to fight poor quality medicines, and progress in pandemic influenza preparedness.
Some Major Trading Partners Are Biggest IP Violators, USTR Says 01/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The United States Trade Representative’s office yesterday issued its annual report naming countries that it says are the biggest infringers of US intellectual property rights, among them some of the country’s biggest trading partners. Meanwhile, questions were raised about the close adherence to industry views in the report.
Day Marked By Initiatives On The Benefits Of IP, Open Technology 26/04/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property rights have been around for centuries in some cultures, but in recent decades have taken off as a global set of rules, bringing with it many business opportunities and policy concerns. Today, on the annual day designated for the celebration of IP rights, some new industry and civil society initiatives were launched and several gatherings in praise of IP were held.
Internet Visionaries Convene In Geneva To Discuss Future Of The Web 22/04/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The 2012 Global INET Forum is uniting some of the architects and builders behind the internet with the industry leaders and policymakers who are shaping it today in an event taking place in Geneva from 22-24 April.
Divergences Clarified On Protection Of Traditional Knowledge At WIPO 18/04/2012 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments From the outset of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting to advance a potential treaty text on the protection of traditional knowledge, discussions on draft articles of the possible treaty confirmed divergence of views, notably between developed and developing countries.