Original news and analysis on international IP policy
On 3 March, 2009, bills were introduced in the US Congress setting forth the proposed "Patent Reform Act of 2009". The legislation proposes significant changes to post-issuance proceedings available to challenge patents in the United States. US attorneys Matthew A. Smith, Stephen B. Maebius and Jon W. Dudas argue the proposed legislation will be a step toward improving patent quality.
Health advocates on Friday escalated their alarm over recent seizures by the Dutch government of shipments of legitimate generic pharmaceuticals passing through Europe on their way to developing countries. The European Commission has defended its actions as permissible under its own and international rules, but is being asked to look more carefully at those rules.
The World Health Organization is soliciting new ideas for funding sources to stimulate research and development on diseases predominantly afflicting developing countries, with some in developed countries. The web-based public hearing, being held online from 7 March to 15 April, will contribute to an intergovernmental mandate to come up with ways to address the shortage of research in this areas.
Developing nations led by Brazil and India, along with public health providers and advocates, this week continue to press strong concern over seizures of legitimate shipments of generic pharmaceuticals destined for poor patients in the developing world. Raising the issue at the World Trade Organization again, they say new research into numerous shipments of legitimate drugs delayed by authorities in the Netherlands have elevated doubts and may mean potentially thousands of patients put at risk.
Many least developed countries have slipped further behind the most developed nations in information and communications technology access since 2002, the United Nations reported Monday. Sweden and its northern European neighbours again topped the list of the most connected countries,…
Leading international public health advocates have sent letters to the heads of the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization calling on them to act to prevent possible circumvention of international trade rules for intellectual property rights relating to shipments of legal generic drugs bound for developing countries.
A small group of United States congressional staff and officials from the Obama administration working on intellectual property issues were in Geneva this week to discuss IP policy with representatives of intergovernmental organisations and industry, according to sources.
Brendan McGivern, a partner at White & Case law firm in Geneva, issued an analysis of the recent decision by a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel on a case filed by the United States against China over copyright, customs…
The UN International Telecommunication Union issued a report at this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that found innovation, convergence and a little opportunism will lead the information and communications technology industry out of the current crisis. Read the report…
It is often unfortunate to see what the public servants of the World Intellectual Property Organization domain name arbitration centre must sift through to make decisions on internet name disputes, which generally reflect consumer tastes. In this case, media industry…