Bill Gates Calls For “Vaccine Decade;” Explains How Patent System Drives Public Health Aid 17/05/2011 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Microsoft legend Bill Gates is impassioned about helping to save lives as head of a large-scale foundation. Today, he explained to Intellectual Property Watch how intellectual property rights help drive that process forward and make it sustainable.
WIPO Members Discuss Patent Quality, Public Health, Exceptions 17/05/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members this week are discussing potential new policies on patent law related to patent quality, patents and health, and exceptions and limitations to patents.
Reforms Needed To Open WIPO’s Door Wider To Development, Diplomat Says 11/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The adoption of a Development Agenda by the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization three years ago was seen by most as a success for developing countries and a sign that the organisation was assuming its role as a United Nations agency to a fuller extent. However, according to a lead official on Development Agenda implementation, there is still a long way to go and changes are needed.
Developing Countries Need Help To Get Research Results Patented, IP Proponent Says 10/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Developing countries are not taking advantage of discoveries made by their scientists and researchers because they lack an appropriate intellectual property infrastructure and expertise, according to a long-time United States proponent of IP rights speaking in Geneva last week. He called for development funds to be redirected to address these shortcomings rather than only supporting IP enforcement initiatives.
TRIPS Amendments Needed To Restore Balance In IP, Researchers Say 06/05/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Current global intellectual property obligations are seen by some as favouring rights holders to the detriment of the public interest, and a series of amendments to international rules on trade and IP could address this, says a new book from a respected European think tank.
WHO Experts On R&D Financing Aim To Find Solutions, With Short Timeline 08/04/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The search for innovative solutions to engage research and development of health products for diseases that particularly affect developing countries is the core mission of a World Health Organization working group that met this week in a special mostly open session. The group of experts will assess proposals and deliver its recommendations next year.
Panel: Help Needed With IP Implications Of Nagoya Protocol On Genetic Resources 07/03/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The new international agreement on access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources has many IP implications, according to panellists at an event last week. And at least one United Nations agency is launching an effort to help countries with those IP implications.
Study Of Public Domain, Copyright At WIPO Offers Recommendations 26/11/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 9 Comments A better definition of the public domain is needed, but copyright and public domain are not antagonistic, said a study commissioned by the World Intellectual Property Organization presented this week. Also this week, a book on the role of copyright in access to knowledge in Africa was launched.
WIPO Works On Its Development Agenda Implementation This Week 22/11/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization this week are in discussions on how to ensure that WIPO activities are development-oriented. A particular focus will be the implementation of a Development Agenda coordination mechanism approved at the last session in May. Also new on the table this week is an agenda item on development-related issues and a proposal for a new project on cooperation between developing countries.
WIPO Copyright Committee In Fight To Overcome Differences On Exceptions, Limitations 12/11/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments On the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on copyright’s final day of weeklong negotiations, the hopes of visually impaired readers and others – librarians, schools – looking for an agreement on copyright exceptions and limitations hang on whether delegates can resolve differences and create a plan for future work.