Category Access to Knowledge/ Education

High Expectations This Week For Progress On Exceptions And Limitations At WIPO

Limitations and exceptions are once again a major topic at the UN intellectual property organisation’s meeting on copyrights and related rights. Delegations this week are discussing several draft proposals to improve access, in particular for visually impaired people, each with their own set of recommendation. With a fourth and new proposal from the African countries on the table, delegates are meeting to try to find common ground, raising the expectations of civil society.

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.

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.

WIPO Proposals Would Open Cross-Border Access To Materials For Print Disabled

Negotiators trying to find a solution for the world’s print disabled, who have said copyright law is limiting their access to an already meagre supply of reading material in usable formats, began discussing a possible UN recommendation this week. But the print disabled and their strongest supporters have said such a recommendation - which would not be legally binding - would fall short of meeting their needs.

Developing Countries Blast WHO Report On IP, Demand “Credible” Approach

A critical report on financing research and development of medicines for the world's poorest was created without transparency, failed to live up to its mandate, and did not address the potential threat that intellectual property rights can pose to access to drugs, developing countries said today at the World Health Assembly. A proposal by a group of Latin American countries for a new intergovernmental working group was not accepted by developed countries and others and quick informal consultations began to work out differences before the end of the assembly this week.

Nueva iniciativa ecuatoriana: combatir la piratería con programas informáticos libres

Los programas informáticos libres se están utilizando como una alternativa legal para combatir la piratería de programas informáticos en un proyecto conjunto impulsado por una organización sin fines de lucro regional, en coordinación con el Instituto Ecuatoriano de la Propiedad Intelectual (IEPI). En este proyecto, se hace uso de las bibliotecas públicas para difundir los programas informáticos libres.

WHO Members To Act On Research Financing, Pandemic Preparedness

How to proceed with the results of an initiative aimed at finding real alternatives for innovative health research financing is on the agenda at next week's World Health Assembly (WHA). The assembly also is expected to approve the continuation of a working group on pandemic influenza preparedness.