WIPO Assembly Considers Paths For Possible New Treaties 30/09/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Member governments of the World Intellectual Property Organization this week set in motion negotiations that could lead to international treaties or other instruments on exceptions and limitations to copyright, the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore, and harmonisation of industrial design laws. Negotiations won’t be without difficulty, however.
Internet Access And Human Rights Highlighted Alongside UN Human Rights Council 28/09/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Can the digital environment be used in a way that promotes real human rights? A group of activists speaking yesterday alongside the ongoing UN Human Rights Council believes that it can, and provided several examples of work they are doing to make that happen.
Geneva Events Address Public Health Solutions For Developing Countries 20/04/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Public health authorities and observers in Geneva this week are discussing problems and possible solutions to medicines pricing and availability in developing countries. But concerns were raised yesterday about a World Health Organization expert group on medicines access and innovation.
FAO Conference Draws Ire From Civil Society; Industry Satisfied By Event 09/03/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments A recent UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conference on the benefits of agricultural biotechnologies in Guadalajara, Mexico, sparked strong reactions from peasant organisations and civil society.
WTO TRIPS Council Considers Workshop On Public Health Amendment 02/03/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Trade Organization group on intellectual property rights met today and ended early, discussing a potential workshop on an amendment intended to ease access to cheaper generic medicines in countries without a pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, a new proposal from Bolivia and three separate longstanding IP issues with no major changes.
Grupo de expertos considera que el acceso a los medicamentos seguros es una cuestión de salud pública y no de propiedad intelectual 14/10/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Las iniciativas de lucha contra la falsificación podrían dificultar el acceso a los medicamentos sin que se logre paliar el problema de los fármacos falsificados, en particular en los países en desarrollo, según dijeron miembros de un grupo de expertos en un evento organizado recientemente por el Open Society Institute.
European Patent System, Court Top Priority Under Swedish EU Presidency 01/07/2009 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment COPENHAGEN – A top priority for Sweden as it takes over the EU presidency on 1 July is to boost negotiations on a Community patent system and a European Patent Court, the government says. Its work programme also emphasises the need for “effective protection of intellectual property rights” and lists a conference on enforcement. Officials, however, deny that enforcement is among the presidency’s main IP focus. And the Pirate Party is concerned.
Video Wants To Be Free And Open Too: IP Policy Considerations 23/06/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Video is becoming an increasingly important communication tool on the web, but questions must be asked about its future, said speakers a recent conference. Will it be a medium of self-expression, available for all, or a translation of television to the internet, where content is provided by some and consumed by the rest? A gathering of technologists, academics, filmmakers and others in New York last week issued a call for a freer video culture.
“Pseudo Bagels” Better With A Side Of IP? 23/06/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The spectre of gastronomic imperfection has long haunted connoisseurs of the fine foods of regions in countries like France and Italy. But Canada has been less concerned about the protecting its homegrown flavours. This means the Canadians are powerless to prevent others from usurping the name of their Montreal bagels, reported Jeff Roberts of the […]
WIPO Patent Committee To Consider Four New Reports, Global Challenges 20/03/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The committee on patents at the World Intellectual Property Organization is set to be re-energised next week as it tackles four new reports, and addresses an ongoing question of the relationship of patent rights to wider policy issues on climate change and other environmental issues, public health, and food security.