Main Recommendations Of UN High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines Presented At WTO 07/03/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment An event held at the World Trade Organization last week walked through key recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, including strategies for moving some of them forward.
Momentum-Building: An Interview With Ruth Dreifuss On High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines 22/02/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, co-chair of the United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines, participated in a Geneva event on rare diseases earlier this month. She agreed to answer Intellectual Property Watch’s Catherine Saez about the High-Level Panel report, in particular how it was received by the international community, her take on criticisms that have been voiced, and the importance that the report be discussed at the international level such as the World Health Assembly.
WTO Members Celebrate Treaty Amendment On Medicines Access, Look Ahead 30/01/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A high-level meeting at the World Trade Organization today welcomed in an amendment to international trade rules for intellectual property aimed at boosting exports of affordable medicines. It also set out the way ahead to make it work.
Group Finds Discrepancies In Implementation Of Nagoya Protocol Between EU, Providers 15/12/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new report by two civil society groups explores what they say are discrepancies between European Union and provider country laws implementing the Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources, which they say could lead to legal uncertainties for users and providers.
Turning Promises Of Marrakesh Treaty For Visually Impaired Into Reality 21/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment With the recent entry into force of the Marrakesh Treaty providing copyright exceptions for persons with visual impairments, a panel convened alongside last week’s World Intellectual Property Organization copyright committee meeting explored ways to transform the treaty’s promises into reality.
WTO ‘Paragraph 6’ System For Affordable Medicine: Time For Change? 14/11/2016 by Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A range of practitioners and representatives in the manufacture of medicines, intergovernmental officials, academics and civil society representatives last week gave diverse views on the effectiveness of a waiver to international trade rules intended to ease shipments of affordable medicines to low-income countries.
WTO TRIPS Council Ponders Regional Innovation Models, Other Issues 10/11/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment This week at the World Trade Organization intellectual property committee a range of mostly developed countries requested to discuss regional innovation models, and countries presented examples of such models. The committee also addressed the issue of “non-violation” complaints and issues of biodiversity and trade, observers, and e-commerce.
New MedsPaL Database: Enhancing Transparency In The Patent Field 07/10/2016 by Alexandra Nightingale for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new database was launched this week to facilitate navigation through the patent field and increase transparency surrounding the patent status of medicines and licences.
External Offices, WIPO Normative Work At Heart Of General Assemblies 03/10/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The decision-making bodies of the World Intellectual Property Organization are meeting this week with the hope of advancing discussions of pending potential treaties to protect broadcasting organisations, and simplifying the international applications for industrial designs. Meanwhile, Director General Francis Gurry opened the annual WIPO General Assemblies with a look at the past year and challenges for the future.
WHO Experts Seek To Have Its Flu Framework Recognised Under Nagoya Protocol 02/09/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Will an international instrument protecting genetic resources get in the way of the world’s preparedness to fend off the next influenza pandemic? This is one of the questions left open for a group of experts reviewing the World Health Organization Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework. Meanwhile, one stakeholder is claiming to have been denied full and fair participation.