Catherine Saez

Articles: 1423
Comments: 1

WHO: Too Few Countries Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance; Global Action Plan Advocates Equitable Access

The World Health Organization released a report today on countries’ response to the global declining effect of antibiotics on bacteria and microbes, heightened by overuse or misuse of those products. Next month the World Health Assembly will consider a draft global action plan to fight the problem, which includes suggestions for sustainable investment in the area such as de-linking research from price and sales, as well as equitable access to new products.

Catherine Saez
April 29, 2015
3 Comments

Positive Note For WIPO Committee On IP And Development, Some Issues Remain

At the close of the session of the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) last week, delegates left on a positive note. Despite not achieving concrete results on several issues, the meeting was described as encouraging by some participants. Technical assistance remained one of the prickly issues, as well as the mechanism for WIPO committees to report on their implementation of the Development Agenda.

Catherine Saez
April 28, 2015
3 Comments

WIPO CDIP: New Proposals Rekindle Conversation On IP And Development

Among the outstanding issues at the World Intellectual Property Organization is how WIPO committees report to the General Assembly on their implementation of the organisation's Development Agenda Recommendations. At this week's meeting on the issue, a new proposal submitted by Mexico attempts to breach differences.

Catherine Saez
April 23, 2015
2 Comments

Geographical Indications An Engine For Development, EU Panellists Say At WIPO

Geographical indications can provide socio-economic benefits for developing countries, said speakers at a side event to the World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP) this week.

Catherine Saez
April 23, 2015
1 Comment

WIPO: The Future Of Music In A Changing Environment

What lies ahead for music in the digital economy was the subject of a roundtable today at the World Intellectual Property Organization. Inaugurating a photo exhibition on the same theme, the United States ambassador stressed the importance of copyright. The roundtable took place on 21 April and was one of the events organised by WIPO celebrating the upcoming World IP Day on 26 April.

Catherine Saez
April 22, 2015

WHO Reviews Its Essential Medicines List; Some New Candidates Under Patent

The World Health Organization is reviewing its list of essential medicines this week. Over 70 candidate medicines are expected to be assessed by an Expert Committee. Some of those medicines are under patent and highly priced, which poses an accessibility challenge.

Catherine Saez
April 21, 2015
1 Comment

WHO Opens Its Database Of Medicines Side Effects To The Public

The World Health Organization has announced that its Global Medicines Safety Database is now open to the general public. The database named VigiAccess can now be accessed on any computer or smartphone in the world.

Catherine Saez
April 20, 2015
1 Comment

Music Is Focus For This Year’s International IP Day At WIPO

Music is the chosen theme of the World Intellectual Property Organization to celebrate this year’s World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April. The organisation has a series of events planned starting next week, and in particular a roundtable on the future of the music industry with a panel of speakers from across the world.

Catherine Saez
April 17, 2015

WIPO Development Committee To Hear Report On Implementation, Discuss Patent Flexibilities

Member governments will discuss the development dimension of the World Intellectual Property Organization next week, looking in particular at how the United Nations organisation is implementing the recommendations of its Development Agenda in its activities.

Catherine Saez
April 17, 2015

Harmonised Filing System For Plant Variety Protection Discussed At UPOV

An industry proposal calling for a harmonised procedure to simplify applications for new varieties of plants and heighten intellectual property protection stirred debate at the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) last month.

Catherine Saez
April 16, 2015

WIPO Seminar On TK, Genetic Resources: Variations In Public Domain, Disclosure

The concept of public domain was born out of the intellectual property system, according to some. However, what constitutes the public domain depends on national interpretations. A recent seminar organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization was an occasion for speakers from diverse horizons to present their experience in the context of traditional knowledge and genetic resources. The relevance of a disclosure requirement in patent application to prevent wrongful patents was also discussed. [Note: Article 2 of 2]

WIPO Seminar Displays National Efforts To Protect TK, Folklore

A recent seminar convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization shed light on national and regional legislations protecting traditional knowledge, folklore and genetic resources, and provided examples of misappropriation. WIPO has a committee dealing with these issues but disagreement among members on its work programme prevented the organisation from organising any meeting of the committee so far this year. [Note: Article 1 of 2]