UNITAID-Backed Patent Pool Final; Drug Licence Talks Can Begin
The final step in the establishment of a patent pool under international drug-purchasing mechanism UNITAID was taken today, the UN body announced.
Intellectual Property Watch
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WHO’s Chan Responds To Allegations Of Misconduct On Flu Pandemic
"At no time, not for one second, did commercial interests enter my decision-making," Director General Margaret Chan of the World Health Organization declaration in a letter today defending the organisation's increasingly scrutinised response to an outbreak of H1N1, or 'swine flu.'
New Rwanda IP Policy Taps Information For Development
"Information is the lifeblood of development," says the government of Rwanda in a recently-adopted intellectual property policy, part of the country’s comprehensive development strategy. The new policy attempts to integrate Rwanda into the international IP system while simultaneously safeguarding the freedom it needs to drive its own innovation system.
June Edition Of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Now Available
The Intellectual Property Watch Monthly Edition features top news on international IP policymaking, the latest on who is coming and going in the international IP community, news briefs and more. The June edition is now available for subscribers at: http://www.ip-watch.org/user/newsletter.
Public Gets A Taste Of WIPO, Policy Debate On IP And Environment
Dressed in casual weekend attire with white and blue “WIPO Staff” t-shirts, World Intellectual Property Organization personnel on 5 June gave explanations and guidance on intellectual property rights to the public, while a blimp-shaped balloon advertised the event outside the building. The WIPO lobby was turned into an intellectual property fair with stands displaying the range of WIPO’s services, and a much-appreciated wine tasting.
Possible WHO-Industry Conflict Of Interest On Pandemic Flu Under Investigation
Global health authorities have been guilty of "grave shortcomings" in transparency and accountability to the public good in their handling of the pandemic influenza outbreak says a new draft resolution from the intergovernmental Council of Europe. A related investigative report from the British Medical Journal found evidence of "declarable financial conflicts of interests" among the experts advising the World Health Organization. But WHO denies any wrongdoing.
Council Of Europe Wants In On ICANN Government Body
The 47-member Council of Europe wants to become an observer in the governmental advisory body of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and is pondering on a possible role as secretariat provider for the ICANN’s Governmental Advisory…
Worning Named Acting Head Of WHO IP Division
Anne Marie Worning, executive director of the director general’s office at the World Health Organization, will be adding direction of the WHO Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (PHI) division to her list of duties, sources revealed today. Worning, a…
New ITU Development Roadmap Doesn’t Develop Content
UN members today announced a roadmap for global information and communications technology development with an emphasis on access to broadband high-speed internet and a range of online public services. But it appeared to steer clear of promoting local content development…
Google May Face New Scrutiny For Privacy Violations In Switzerland
Legally speaking, there is "little doubt" that Google's collection of WiFi data by its roving Street View vehicles violates the Swiss Data Protection Act, and the company is likely to come under new scrutiny in Switzerland possibly even resulting in "severe financial consequences," a respected Swiss law firm has said.
EU Generics Producers’ Plan For Market Access
“Increasing generic medicine market penetration is the fastest way towards considerable and sustainable savings for healthcare systems in Europe” was the message of European Generics Association President Didier Barret to delegates at the group’s annual meeting, held in Rome on…
China, India To Raise Concerns At WTO About “TRIPS-Plus” Measures, ACTA
China and India, two increasingly potent players on the global economic stage, next week plan to voice concerns at the World Trade Organization about efforts by developed countries to push poorer trading partners beyond their WTO commitments on trade and intellectual property rights, so-called TRIPS-plus measures.