Civil Society, Elected Officials Rally Behind UNITAID Patent Pool
This week's consideration of an implementation plan for a medicines patent pool by the board of oversight body UNITAID stirred a stream of stakeholder letters from around the world.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category IP Policies
Tough Talks On IP In Technology Paper At Copenhagen; No Mention In Latest Draft
COPENHAGEN - A draft text on development and transfer of technology was subject to intense - and indeed heated - discussions during the first week of the high-level climate meeting in Copenhagen. But no intellectual property was mentioned in the latest draft text that was issued on 14 December.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Meeting Stalls, But Begins To Breach ‘Trust Gap’
After an auspicious beginning on substantive issues, the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge committee stalled on matters of procedure at the end of its meeting last week. With no mandate, a committee working group will not meet in early 2010 as planned, and the full committee will move meet again sooner than scheduled to try to agree on process.
Restoration Of French Philosopher’s Work Online In Argentina Seen As An Opening
An Argentinean judge’s recent decision to drop charges against a philosophy professor for alleged copyright infringement is being seen as a stepping stone to drawing attention to copyright issues in Latin America, according to advocates.
Professor Horacio Potel created open source websites to post foreign philosophers’ work in Spanish. The websites were named “Nietzsche in Spanish,” “Heidegger in Spanish,” and “Derrida in Spanish.”
US Government, Industry De-Emphasise Multilateral System In Enforcement Push
The Obama administration and industry groups like the Motion Picture Association of America continue to keep their policy focus squarely on protection and enforcement of IP assets, but in testimony to the US Congress last week made no mention of multilateral venues for advancing these interests through new policy instruments.
Counterfeit Medicines At WHO: Off Board’s Agenda, Still On Secretariat’s
The issue of counterfeit and substandard medicines is again not on the agenda of the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting in January, though sources say member states are being consulted about the issue by the secretariat.
WHO Report On Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Now Available
The World Health Organization secretariat has released its report to the executive board meeting on pandemic influenza preparedness. A framework for handling outbreaks of potentially pandemic influenza was approved in May this year, but outstanding – and critical - elements of the framework remained unfinished.
UNITAID Drug Patent Pool Implementation Hinges On Board
Implementation of a United Nations-related patent pool initiative that independent reviewers say could save millions of lives (and dollars) is set to be approved next week by the initiative’s board, though some observers fear resistance from strong patent beneficiaries, such as the foundation run by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. A confidential report on the initiative prepared for board approval is expected to show multiple benefits to implementation of the pool, but also some concerns, according to informed sources.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Negotiators Dodging Roadblocks
How to handle work between meetings on creating a "legal instrument" caused a stalemate in informal negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge committee this evening. Unable to reach agreement on the composition and activities of the group, delegates have put the negotiations on hold and will reconvene informally tomorrow (Friday) morning.
Draft Copenhagen Text On IP Issues Now Available
COPENHAGEN - A new draft climate change text on development and transfer of technology, obtained by Intellectual Property Watch and available to subscribers, was issued and under discussion at COP15 this afternoon.
Financement de la recherche-développement de médicaments contre les maladies oubliées : l’OMS s’apprête à publier ses recommandations
Le groupe d’experts sur les financements innovants pour la recherche et le développement, réuni sous les auspices de l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS), a tenu sa troisième et dernière réunion du 30 novembre au 2 décembre. Le rapport de ce comité très secret devrait être communiqué aux Etats membres dans les semaines qui viennent, selon certaines sources.
Confidential Documents From WHO R&D Finance Group, Industry, Raise Concern
Confidential documents related to the World Health Organization Expert Working Group on innovative financing for research and development surfaced today, revealing the group’s thinking as well as pharmaceutical industry thinking about the WHO process. The documents immediately raised concern about possible undue access to the process by industry, but the WHO told Intellectual Property Watch the industry group was not supposed to have them.