Possible WHO-Industry Conflict Of Interest On Pandemic Flu Under Investigation 07/06/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Global health authorities have been guilty of “grave shortcomings” in transparency and accountability to the public good in their handling of the pandemic influenza outbreak says a new draft resolution from the intergovernmental Council of Europe. A related investigative report from the British Medical Journal found evidence of “declarable financial conflicts of interests” among the experts advising the World Health Organization. But WHO denies any wrongdoing.
WIPO To Open Its Doors To Public For First Time Ever 02/06/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization is opening its doors to the public on Saturday for a glimpse at the organisation’s activities, during its first-ever “open day.”
US, China Weaving Closer Trade and IP Cooperation; Focus On Innovation 01/06/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The United States and China are strengthening their relationship on innovation and intellectual property rights as the global economy is slowly taking an upward turn. Those may come as signs of positive collaboration on the delicate issue of IP rights in the face of ongoing questions by US industry and government about the impact of China’s IP rights infringement on American jobs.
Special Report: The Potential Consequences of Google’s Electronic Book Initiative 01/06/2010 by Bruce Gain for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Google’s ambitious plans to make published books available for download on most internet-connected electronic devices by leveraging its position as the world’s largest search engine could have far-reaching repercussions on electronic publishing and book file-sharing in the near future.
Proposals At WHO Would Boost Drug Safety, Replace Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce 18/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Discussion at the annual World Health Assembly on counterfeit medicines may prove lively as stakeholders continue to raise concerns that the term “counterfeit” will confuse protecting patients from unsafe drugs with protecting trademarks from infringement. And an industry-led event in the lead-up to the WHA said counterfeit medicines pose great risks and will require a coordinated international response.
WHO Members To Act On Research Financing, Pandemic Preparedness 14/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment How to proceed with the results of an initiative aimed at finding real alternatives for innovative health research financing is on the agenda at next week’s World Health Assembly (WHA). The assembly also is expected to approve the continuation of a working group on pandemic influenza preparedness.
Brazilian Generic Drug Registration Sets Standard For ‘Pipeline’ Patents 13/05/2010 by Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The first Brazilian generic drug against erectile dysfunction recently received registration at the National Surveillance Agency – a unit of the Health Ministry. The Viagra generic’s registration was only possible because of a decision of the Superior Court that will terminate the drug patent next month, said Odnir Finotti, president of the Pro-Generics Association.
US, WIPO Officials Assess Patent Reform, PCT, Copyright Priorities 10/05/2010 by Liza Porteus Viana, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment NEW YORK – Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States are “hotlining” colleagues to ascertain if there is any objection to moving patent reform quickly through the US Senate, a representative of a major stakeholder in the debate said here Friday. Meanwhile, the US Copyright Office is working to get its priorities through a restructured Congress, and a World Intellectual Property Organization official warned of a possible divide in WIPO’s norm-setting activities.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee Moving Toward Legal Agreement 07/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A World Intellectual Property Organization committee tasked with finding an international instrument to prevent the misappropriation of traditional knowledge, folklore, and genetic resources has begun in earnest text-based discussions and is now working to find an agreement on extra meetings intended to speed the process towards creating an international legal instrument.
India Overturns Patent On AIDS Patient Drug 05/05/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Chennai Patent Office in India last week overturned the patent on Valganciclovir, an expensive drug used to prevent an infection to which people with HIV/AIDS or organ recipients are susceptible, an Indian lawyers’ group said today. The patent office decided that the patent held by Swiss company Roche lacked inventive step and did not […]