UN Campaign Engages Tourists In Fight Against Counterfeits
Three United Nations agencies have announced that they are uniting forces to fight trafficking, urging travelers to act responsively.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Catherine Saez
With A “Clean Slate,” WIPO Director Nominee Gurry Looks Ahead
Incumbent Francis Gurry of Australia today was nominated to be the director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization until 2020, with WIPO members to make their final decision on 8 May. In his return to office, Gurry told reporters today he wants to focus on the digital marketplace, improving the organisation’s performance, changing geopolitics, and to steer journalists away from writing about allegations of wrongdoing at WIPO.
WIPO Enforcement Committee: Positive Sharing Of Experiences But Future Work Elusive
After two-and-a-half days of non-stop information sharing on ways to build respect for intellectual property and enforce IP rights, members of the World Intellectual Property Organization could not agree on the future agenda of the committee on enforcement.
At WIPO: New Business Models Aim To Shrink Market For Counterfeits
New business models for reducing markets for counterfeit and pirated goods were presented by speakers at the WIPO Advisory Committee on Enforcement this week, including voluntary mechanisms and graduated responses. But prices on brand name products was a little-explored issue during the presentations, only underlined as a possible factor of piracy by one developing country delegation.
WIPO Members Target Young People In IP Awareness-Raising Campaign
Raising awareness on the value of intellectual property and preventive actions to fight counterfeiting particularly among younger users was among the strategies presented by speakers at the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on enforcement of IP rights this week.
Parallel WIPO Initiative On Access For Visually Impaired Steps Up
A growing number of countries are signing the new World Intellectual Property Organization treaty on copyright exceptions aimed at boosting access to special format books for visually impaired persons. Parallel to the treaty and pre-dating it, a WIPO-led initiative of interested stakeholders is continuing its efforts to also boost access to such works, including through licence agreements.
TRIPS Council: Discussion Of IP And Innovation Irritates India: Other Issues Unchanged
World Trade Organization members at the WTO intellectual property committee this week held fast to positions on longstanding issues, but engaged in discussions on issues such as innovation in relation to universities, and so-called “non-violation complaints” against countries that may cause harm to another country but don’t violate a WTO rule. Also discussed was the ongoing dispute over plain packaging requirements for tobacco products.
IP Rights Impact Practice Of Science, Global Justice, Author Says
Intellectual property has a strong effect on the practice of science, leading to a shift in research attention for the benefit of the rich, while impeding access to essential goods for the disadvantaged, according to a recent book.
Interview With Nazeem Mohamed, CEO Of Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries
Nazeem Mohamed is chief executive officer of Kampala Pharmaceutical Industries (KPI), a Ugandan generic manufacturer. Local manufacture of medicines is described by many, including the World Health Organization, as one of the tools that will increase access to medicines. Mohamed is former vice-president of strategic product development at Novo Nordisk, based in Belgium. He also worked for several leading multinational companies such as Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline before his appointment as CEO of KPI.
With Intellectual Property Watch, Mohamed discussed KPI, the challenges of local drug production, the burden of non-communicable diseases, the issue of substandard medicines, rules engineered in the West which can hinder affordability and access in a least-developed country, unfair competition, and unmet skills building needs.
Tobacco Packaging, Green Tech, University IP On Plate Of WTO IP Committee
Technology transfer for green technologies, and the compliance with international trade rules of plain packaging for tobacco products will once again be on the agenda of the World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property next week. A new agenda item on university technology partnerships is also expected to be discussed.