UN Names New Head Of Convention On Biological Diversity
Cristiana Paşca Palmer of Romania has been named executive secretary of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
William New
Helping Patenters In A Sea Of PAEs: Interview With LOT Network’s Ken Seddon
Patent assertion entity (PAE) activity has skyrocketed in the past decade and much discussion has occurred around what to do in response to patent holders whose strategy is more focused on legal battles than innovating. One notable group has risen up to bring together global companies to address the PAE issue with a novel sharing approach. In an interview with Intellectual Property Watch, Ken Seddon, CEO and President of LOT Network, talks about the group's rapid growth, what's coming next, and how not to bring a squirt gun to a nuclear fight.
Pfizer CEO Ian Read Elected To Rotating IFPMA Presidency
Pfizer Board Chairman and CEO Ian Read has been elected as the next president of the Geneva-based International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), a two-year role.
WHO Board May Discuss UN High-Level Panel Report On Medicines Access
The UN World Health Organization this week clarified that the possibility exists for the WHO Executive Board to discuss a recently released report from a UN Secretary General-appointed panel that makes recommendations for improving global access to medicines.
Hundreds Of Civil Society Groups Urge RCEP Negotiators To Reject Imported TPP Clauses
As 16 Asia and Pacific nations prepare to meet in Indonesia next week for the next round of negotiations for a large regional trade agreement called RCEP, more than 300 civil society groups signed a letter urging negotiators to reject efforts to bring in texts from the separate Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Dominica Accepts TRIPS Health Amendment; Two More To Go?
The government of Dominica has deposited its instrument of acceptance of the 2005 so-called "paragraph 6" amendment to international intellectual property trade rules aimed at making it easier for countries to export affordable medical products to developing countries. Dominica's signing brings the number of signers to 65 percent of WTO members, according to the WTO. Two-thirds of WTO members must accept it for the amendment to go into effect, but it is unclear exactly how many members that represents. It appears that two or three more members will tip the scale.
CERN Staff Association Says There’s A “Loose Screw” At Top Of EPO
The Staff Association of the Geneva-based European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) this week issued a strongly worded statement in solidarity with staff at the European Patent Office. They called the EPO essential to Europe and said the EPO president's repressive "19th century"-style anti-worker tactics are endangering the institution and the European economy.
FAO Postpones New Director For Office In Geneva
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) today announced the postponement of the assumption of duties of the person appointed to become the new director of the FAO liaison office in Geneva. The postponement comes after the government of Peru raised concerns that FAO's appointment of former Peruvian first lady Nadine Heredia Alarcón interferes with a government investigation of corruption and money-laundering against her.
Antigua & Barbuda To Lift US IP Protection In 2017 If US Fails To Comply With WTO Ruling
Caribbean nation Antigua & Barbuda has declared that it will exercise an option granted it by a World Trade Organization dispute settlement panel to lift protection on US intellectual property rights starting in 2017 if the US does not finally change a law blocking the island nation's online gambling services or compensate it.
EU Council Agrees To Remove Geo-Blocking Barriers To E-Commerce
The European Union Council of member states today agreed on draft regulations to prevent blocking of cross-border e-commerce, but appears to retain copyright restrictions.
UN Secretary-General Urges Action On High-Level Panel Report On Medicines Access
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today issued a message praising the "milestone" report of a High-Level Panel on access to medicines he set up a year ago to address the continuing problem of medicines prices being too high for many in the world to afford, and the lack of access to quality medicines for many. In his message, he called on governments to review the report and its recommendations, and to chart a way forward to address the problem of lack of access to medicines and health technologies.
WHO Director Candidates Nabarro, Szócska Speak On Medicines Prices And IP
Candidates from around the world vying to be the next director general of the World Health Organization in recent weeks have presented their views to member states on a range of public health issues. Two of the six candidates answered a question put to them by Intellectual Property Watch relating to medicines prices, innovation and intellectual property. Here are their answers.