Blockstream’s New Patent Strategy: Trust Us, We Won’t Sue You
Blockstream, which developed the blockchain technology and bitcoin, has announced a defensive patent strategy. The crux of it: assurance that users of its technology won't be sued.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Patents/Designs/Trade Secrets
Free Trade Agreements Threaten Farmers’ Rights, Food Security, Group Says
Small farmers around the world are threatened by new free trade agreements, a civil society group has argued. Those agreements go beyond the requirements of agreed international intellectual property rules and jeopardise the ability of small farmers to save, produce, and exchange seeds, the group said.
WHO Updates Patent Status Info For New Hepatitis C Medicines
The World Health Organization has issued updated information on the patent status of hepatitis C medicines, including assessments of hurdles for affordable generic versions of latest drugs.
AIDS Conference: Will The UN High-Level Panel Report Deliver R&D And Access To Medicines?
DURBAN, South Africa - The lessons derived from the history of AIDS treatment have become a rallying call for civil society organisations globally. Not being able to afford AIDS medicines should not be repeated for people with other diseases, including HIV co-infections, treatment activists told world leaders here.
UNCTAD14: Global Non-Tariff Measures Database Launched; Calls For Strengthened UNCTAD Heard
NAIROBI, Kenya (IP-Watch) -- A global database on non-tariff measures (NTMs) has been launched here at the 14th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 14). Also this week the World Investment Forum kicked off, the first such event since agreement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
WHO: Countries Need To Step It Up On Noncommunicable Disease Commitments
Despite "remarkable" progress by some countries on addressing noncommunicable diseases like cancer and diabetes, there is a need to accelerate efforts in order to meet agreed global commitments, the World Health Organization said this week.
Patenting By Universities Unhelpful, Paper Says; WIPO Programme To Be Reviewed
A new publication analysing the relationship between intellectual property and access to science explores ways countries have developed to counter the potential barriers created by IP rights, and says patenting by universities is counterproductive.
EU Anti-Counterfeiting Rapid Intelligence System: One Database For All Data On IPR Infringement
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission Trade Directorate recently launched a new intellectual property enforcement tool that aims to pool together all data relating to IP rights infringement experienced by EU companies into one database to help build prevention strategies. This is one of many new EU initiatives to counter growing IPR infringement and counterfeits.
UNCTAD Conference Opens With High-Level Calls For Action On Trade And Development
NAIROBI, Kenya (IP-Watch) – The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 14th Session opened here yesterday, with leaders calling for deeper and broader cooperation between trade and development.
Industry Report Tracks Innovation’s Value To AIDS Treatment In Developing Countries
A new report launched in time for this week's AIDS conference in South Africa analyzes factors relating to access to HIV/AIDS treatments over the past 15 years. The analysis includes a look at government policies used during that time, the contribution of generic and research-based industries, and the importance of voluntary licensing.
TTIP Negotiators Need Many More Nights To Negotiate – And Are Planning Just That
Top negotiators of the European Union and United States today underlined after the 14th round of negotiations for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that they are still on track for finalising the deal during the outgoing Obama administration. At the same time, they acknowledged that after three years of negotiations some chapters have never been discussed.
Orphan Drugs Finding Home In Markets: Could Be 20% Of All Sales By 2020
Worldwide sales for orphan drugs are forecast to reach $178 billion by 2020, according to a recent industry report. Moreover, the orphan drug market is expected to grow almost 12 percent per year, a level the broader pharmaceutical market “could only dream about” with its expected annual growth of 5.9 percent, according to Lisa Urquhart, editor of EvaluatePharma Vantage.