Category Features

Year Ahead: Biotech, IP Promise to Create Controversy From Farms To Big Pharma In 2014

The intersection of biotechnology and intellectual property continues to be a hot topic across the globe. From the patenting of certain plant varieties to human genes, to biodiversity and food security, to genetic resources, countries from developing to developed are attempting to navigate often blurred lines in terms of what can and cannot be patented, what should - and shouldn’t - be patented, and protecting innovators from farmers to plant breeders to drug manufacturers.

Liza Porteus Viana
February 25, 2014
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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.

Catherine Saez
February 20, 2014

South African Traditional Knowledge Protection Bill Amends IP Laws

The much-debated Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill in South Africa, aimed at boosting protection for traditional knowledge, was signed by President Jacob Zuma without much fanfare and promotion. What happens now?

Linda Daniels
February 19, 2014
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Battles Over Patents: Is India Changing The Rules Of The Game?

Over the last couple of years, news of pharmaceutical patents and India’s attempts to protect and manage its market has caught the attention of intellectual property observers everywhere and the pharmaceutical industry in particular.

Seminar Shows Continued Divergence Among Nations On Regulating Internet

It is generally considered that internet governance and cyber safety issues should be addressed in a multilateral way, but several points remain highly controversial, such as the adoption of rules and modifications of internet governance to be made. These issues were the subject of a panel at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research this week.

MaÃ«li Astruc
February 14, 2014
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South Africa Promotion And Protection Of Investment Bill 2013 – A Review

On 1 November 2013, the South African Department of Trade and Industry published the draft "Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill" for comments. And two lawyers caution that if not careful, it could come in conflict with the country's international intellectual property obligations.

Interviews With The Candidates For WIPO Director General

Member states of the UN World Intellectual Property Organization, the global body for international IP policy issues, will vote on 6 March for the next WIPO director general for six years. Intellectual Property Watch asked the candidates four key questions. Here are their responses.

William New
February 12, 2014
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Small-Scale Farmers’ Innovation Overlooked In WIPO Negotiations, Panellists Say

A side event hosted by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) this week called on negotiators at the World Intellectual Property Organization to include innovation by small-scale farmers and asked for complementarity of several international instruments dealing with this issue.

MaÃ«li Astruc
February 7, 2014
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Developing Countries Urged To Beat Biopiracy With Patent Examination, Regulatory Frameworks

While World Intellectual Property Organization members seek ways to address the issue of biopiracy, speakers at a side event to this week’s negotiations said the phenomenon is widespread. According to them, very few patent applicants source the origin of the…

Catherine Saez
February 7, 2014
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New Study Makes Case for Innovative Medicines

A new pharmaceutical industry-backed study draws attention to the value of innovative medicines in reducing healthcare costs and to the wider society that goes beyond clinical and personal values. However, in middle income countries, national prioritisation and improvements in healthcare infrastructure are needed to maximise the value of medicinal innovation, the study found.

Julia Fraser
January 31, 2014

Year Ahead: Internet Governance After Snowden: Cacophony Of Conferences

Those interested in internet governance will have to put some money aside for 2014: rarely have there been so many conferences to talk about how to manage core internet resources and develop the common rules to govern more general aspects of global net communication.

Monika Ermert
January 30, 2014
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At WIPO, Global Experts Share Experiences On Open Collaboration

The recent World Intellectual Property Organization Conference on Open Innovation: Collaborative Projects and the Future of Knowledge showed the potential of open collaborative innovation in confronting some of today’s greatest challenges. This model of innovation is used in industries ranging from health research and solutions to climate change to film production and museum design.

Julia Fraser
January 29, 2014
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