Catherine Saez

Catherine Saez

  • Joined: 30/11/-0001
  • Articles: 1894
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WTO Members Discuss UN High-Level Report On Medicines Access That WHO Declined To Discuss

The World Trade Organization intellectual property committee this week discussed the report of United Nations Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on access to medicines which offered recommendations regarding the use of intellectual property in international trade. Developing countries taking the floor accentuated the use of flexibilities under trade rules, and the World Health Organization gave an overview of how its activities follow the panel's recommendations, and its future projects. Civil society meanwhile criticised the WHO’s decision to dismiss a request by some developing countries to include discussions on the UN report at the next Executive Board Meeting.

WTO TRIPS Council Ponders Regional Innovation Models, Other Issues

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.

Lancet Report On Essential Medicines Takes Aim At Access, Affordability

A much-anticipated report on progress in global access to essential medicines released today has found that change is needed to the system of paying for research and development, including moving beyond sole reliance on patents to cover R&D costs. It calls for a global R&D policy framework, a possible patent pool for essential medicines, addresses financing issues, and claims to have developed a new cost model. Meanwhile, comments ranged from two ministers from the Netherlands said the system is broken while a leading industry executive criticised it for questioning the patent system.

WIPO Development Committee Finds Compromise On Future Work

The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development last week agreed on a work programme which appears to be the best compromise to keep discussing subjects that developing countries consider as having major importance, such as how WIPO integrates development in its work, how the organisation implements the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and how WIPO delivers technical assistance to developing countries. They will also continue working on a project and a proposal related to technology transfer.

Indian Generic Pharma Warns Against Government Caving To US Pressure On Data Exclusivity

The Indian Drug Technical Advisory Board meeting on 7 November is expected to discuss a measure that could lead to opening the way to a 10-year data exclusivity period for originator pharmaceutical companies in India, according to the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance. The alliance submitted a letter to the advisory board to warn against consequences on public health of data exclusivity if the Indian government “succumbs to” pressure by the United States.

Proposals On How To Better Implement WIPO Development Agenda Recommendations Kept On Agenda

Today, the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development agreed to pursue discussions on how WIPO is implementing the recommendations of its sweeping 2007 Development Agenda. The secretariat is instructed to provide a response to a set of recommendations provided by independent reviewers.

EU Commission Says Plants And Animals From Conventional Processes Not Patentable

The European Commission has issued its opinion on certain articles of the EU directive on biotechnological inventions, in particular the patentability of plants or animals obtained as a result of natural occurrence such as selection and crossing. The Commission found that the intention of the EU when drafting the legislation was to exclude such products from patentability.

WIPO Committee Agrees To Focus Work To Improve WIPO Technical Assistance

Delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development today agreed on how the committee should continue work on improving WIPO technical assistance to developing countries. For the next six sessions, delegates will work on a proposal for forums and secretariat reports with the aim of raising the accountability and effectiveness of WIPO technical assistance.

WIPO Members Divided On IP Agency’s Role In Implementation Of UN Sustainable Development Goals

Countries of the world decided in 2015 to launch an ambitious agenda to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all by 2030. What should be the role of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization in the attainment of the adopted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals? This question, discussed at the WIPO Committee on Development and IP, is dividing countries, as developed countries argue that only a few goals apply to the work of WIPO, and others argue that there should be no ‘cherrypicking’ as all the goals in one way or another do apply to WIPO's work as a UN agency.