Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Today, the Global Fund sought to settle concerns about fraud involving millions of dollars it provided to several African countries. The fund had been strongly supported by developed countries for its direct model of providing funds for health work on the ground in developing countries, and evidence of corruption among recipients drew international attention.
Markus Kummer, the long-time Swiss diplomat who has headed the secretariat to the multistakeholder Internet Governance Forum, has become vice president for public policy at the Internet Society in Geneva. The IGF was an outgrowth of the 2003-2005 World Summit…
In what the World Trade Organization is signalling as a breakthrough, negotiators have come up with a draft text for an international register of geographical indications for wines and spirits, or product names derived from places or special characteristics. The…
Comcast gave money to the vast majority of the 97 members of the US House of Representatives that signed a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging approval of a merger between cable company Comcast and broadcaster NBC Universal, according…
A new private sector report shows that billions of visitors are going to websites selling products and services worldwide, but accentuates the fact that most of these visits involve transactions not controlled by the intellectual property rights owners.
World Trade Organization members are scheduled to meet this week to discuss a geographical indications register as part of the intensifying negotiations under the Doha Round.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has posted several examples of benefits to the public of disclosures of confidential documents by Wikileaks. Details here.
Intellectual Property Watch Director and Editor-in-Chief William New recently participated in a podcast discussing IP and development, particularly at WIPO, and the latest on patent trolls around the world.
A new policy guide has been released that analyzes the public health effects of intellectual property rights provisions in bilateral trade agreements. The guide has a special focus on the Eastern Mediterranean region.
An internet civil liberties group in Hungary has warned that the country's new media law gives the government censorship authority, threatening freedom of speech and independent journalism. The law took effect on 1 January - at the same time Hungary assumed the six-month presidency of the European Union, raising fears of EU level spread of such policies.
An official who is has been an active voice in access to medicines policymaking in Geneva has taken over as the new permanent representative of Kenya to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The International Trademark Association today announced the appointment of its 2011 president, the first INTA president from a non-English speaking country.