New CBD Head: IPR Still Key To Nagoya Protocol On Access And Benefit-Sharing 10/07/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment NEW DELHI – The “Nagoya Protocol,” an international agreement struck in the Japanese town of Nagoya in October 2010, has nearly 100 signatory countries, and is a major talking point in the international discourse on biodiversity. But ratification by the governments of these countries remains painfully slow, and the process towards it fraught with daunting challenges, as was evident last week during a key inter-governmental meeting in the Indian capital New Delhi. In an interview with Intellectual Property Watch, the new head of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity had much to say about intellectual property rights.
Rio+20 Climate Talks Finish With Little IP; Flexibilities Under Fire 25/06/2012 by Patralekha Chatterjee for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments RIO DE JANEIRO – Many of the technologies that can make the world more sustainable are available today. But how to transfer such green technologies to those most in need of them remains a question on which there are starkly divergent views – even after last week’s much-anticipated Rio+20 leaders’ summit.
World Health Assembly: WHO Carves Out Leadership Role In “Vaccine Decade” 28/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With a generous pledge and a grand vision, Bill Gates launched the “Decade of Vaccines” two years ago. By endorsing a “Global Vaccine Action Plan” during the World Health Assembly, the world’s health authority stands as the lead agency in advancing the initiative.
WHO Members To Address Proposals For Financing Developing Country R&D 22/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the World Health Organization at their annual meeting tomorrow will address proposals for ways to finance research and development for diseases which afflict mainly developing countries but for which there are not lucrative markets.
IP Experts Focus On 3-Step Test In Copyright, Discuss Way Forward 21/12/2011 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Although intellectual property issues did not play a big role in the Eighth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference, some international stakeholders took advantage of the global gathering to meet, discuss and debate the 3-step test in copyright, a key topic in IP today. The discussion included a call for a WTO declaration on the 3-step test.
Issues Of Interest To IP Community Abound At WTO Ministerial 14/12/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Despite the low-key role of intellectual property rights issues at this week’s World Trade Organization ministerial, there is plenty to think about for the IP community.
WIPO, The ‘Sleeping Beauty’ Of Climate Change Policy, Urged To Awaken 14/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization has taken its first public steps in the climate change debate by holding a conference on the subject this week. The organisation’s expertise in intellectual property policy and technology transfer is being sought by several other actors in the field, in particular the United Nations climate change agency.
WHO Expert Group Sifts Ideas For A New Global Drug R&D Mechanism 05/07/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A diverse team of global experts on public health research and development will meet this week behind closed doors to analyse proposals for ways to fund R&D on diseases afflicting poor populations – and for who should coordinate such global efforts.
WIPO Panel Weighs Role Of Internet Intermediaries In Online Copyright Infringement 01/07/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The role and responsibility of internet intermediaries in the protection of copyright is under debate in several policy fora and often brings up issues such as privacy, access to knowledge, and freedom of expression. A panel was organised last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization to explore the viewpoints of several but not all stakeholders on this issue.
Workplan Of WHO Group On Neglected Diseases R&D Shows Timeline 23/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A World Health Organization expert working group on innovative financing of research and development for diseases particularly affecting developing countries will present its inception report and work plan this week.