Corporate Self-Interest And Strategic Choices: Gilead Licenses To Medicines Patent Pool 21/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Gilead’s recently announced ARV licenses to the Medicines Patent Pool, although positive in some respects, still unreasonably limit the geographical access of key middle-income countries and restrict the sourcing of APIs and products to Indian companies, meaning that both generics companies and excluded countries will need to make strategic decisions to bypass the defects in the licenses, writes Brook Baker.
Interview With Chief Judge Paul R. Michel On US Patent Reform 14/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments Chief Judge Paul R. Michel (Ret.), of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, saw hundreds of patent cases during his distinguished career and has a unique position from which to view and offer advice on efforts in the US Senate and House of Representatives to agree on changes to domestic patent law. Intellectual Property Watch recently had the opportunity to interview Judge Michel on prospects for substantive patent reform in the US, the effect on future cases involving domestic and foreign patents, likely constitutional challenges, and the “non-problem” of non-practicing entities.
WHO Enters Next Phase Of Global Plan To Increase Flu Vaccine Production 14/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization will be entering a new phase of its global action plan for influenza vaccines, a WHO representative told reporters today. The goals of the first phase of the programme should be furthered but with more attention given to the local health and policy environment, WHO said.
Does Introduction Of A Utility Model Protection Regime Make Sense In India? 13/07/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments India has at least seven diverse intellectual property (IP) legislations related to protection already in place. Its focus should therefore arguably be directed – along the lines of many other IP jurisdictions – on more stringent enforcement modus operandi of the IP rights. Is there scope for introducing yet another IP legislation – the utility model protection law – in the Indian IP landscape and if so, what should be its scope and implication, asks Swarup Kumar.
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Did US Move Threaten Public Health? 12/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Civil society groups say a leaked document from regional free trade negotiations between countries bordering the Pacific Ocean shows the United States favouring giant pharmaceutical companies at the expense of public health. Separately, the tobacco industry is allegedly also trying to push for a clause to prevent plain packaging.
Non-Communicable Diseases Issue Energises Public Health Policymakers 07/07/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Concern over non-communicable diseases – traditionally a more developed-country set of problems like diabetes – is energising the international public health policy community. But representatives of the public interest are still grappling with their response.
Amending Canada’s Access To Medicines Regime (CAMR): The New Fate Of Bill C-393 28/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments A Canadian bill to improve global access to medicines might get another shot in the new Parliament, writes Daniele Dionisio.
Patent Reform Debate: Live Updates From The US House Of Representatives 22/06/2011 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual Property Watch is providing play-by-play action from today’s floor debate of HR 1249, the bill to reform US patent law which is facing a fight. For IP-Watch Subscribers.
Common Text Emerges On Copyright Exceptions For The Blind 17/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments A cross-cutting group of major World Intellectual Property Organisation members today produced a “non-paper” on limitations and exceptions to copyright for visually impaired readers at a WIPO meeting on copyright. The group had met in informal consultations for a few months and achieved consensus on the substance this morning, according to sources.
Copyright Vital For Authors, Adaptable For Wide Access, WIPO Panellists Say 17/06/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Copyright is necessary to allow authors to live from their trade and to guarantee their independence, and exceptions should be decided by authors and publishers, according to panellists on a copyright dialogue held at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week.