Category Development

US, WIPO Officials Assess Patent Reform, PCT, Copyright Priorities

NEW YORK - Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States are “hotlining” colleagues to ascertain if there is any objection to moving patent reform quickly through the US Senate, a representative of a major stakeholder in the debate said here Friday. Meanwhile, the US Copyright Office is working to get its priorities through a restructured Congress, and a World Intellectual Property Organization official warned of a possible divide in WIPO's norm-setting activities.

Biotech Convention Pays Homage To IP, Pledges To Increase Access To Medicine

Intellectual property rights and access to medicines were on the agenda at the first day of a biotechnology industry group’s annual convention yesterday. The group held a panel on IP rights and also released a policy statement on access to medicine in developing countries. The director of the US Patent and Trademark Office commented positively on the initiative.

Coordination Mechanism Adopted For WIPO Development Agenda Implementation

A mechanism to watch the continuing implementation of development-oriented principles into the World Intellectual Property Organization’s work has now been found. For many, the Development Agenda is the most important agreement in WIPO’s recent past, and the mechanism - which will monitor, assess and report on its implementation - was a critical area of importance in ensuring it reaches its full potential.

El Ecuador concede primera licencia obligatoria para medicamentos contra el VIH/SIDA

Este mes, el Ecuador concedió su primera licencia obligatoria para un producto farmacéutico patentado, desde que el año pasado declarara que utilizaría normas internacionales que permiten tal concesión.

Esta acción ya le ha aportado al país ahorros sustanciales debido a la nueva competencia, según la oficina de propiedad intelectual ecuatoriana. Otros países latinoamericanos podrían verse atraídos por las perspectivas de precios de medicamentos más bajos, según dejaron trascender algunos defensores. El titular de los derechos se manifestó decepcionado por la decisión.

Ecuador Grants First Compulsory Licence, For HIV/AIDS Drug

Ecuador this month granted its first compulsory licence for a patented pharmaceutical since declaring last year that it would utilise international rules allowing it to do so.

The move has already brought the country substantial savings due to new competition, according to the Ecuadorean intellectual property office. Other Latin American countries might be drawn to the prospect of reduced drug prices, according to advocates. The rights owner said it is disappointed with the decision.

ITU In A Converging World — Interview With ITU Strategist Alexander Ntoko

The International Telecommunication Union, based in Geneva, is a 191-member United Nations body. Intellectual Property Watch recently spoke with Alexander Ntoko, a top strategist in the organisation about priorities in this critical year, inclusion of the public interest, and how convergence is bringing more issues related to digital content to the traditional telecom body.

Le Conseil des ADPIC envisage la tenue d’un atelier sur un amendement relatif à la santé publique

Le groupe Propriété Intellectuelle de l’Organisation Mondiale pour le Commerce s’est réuni plus brièvement que prévu, le 2 mars 2010, pour discuter d’un éventuel atelier sur un amendement visant à faciliter l’accès à des médicaments génériques abordables pour les pays dépourvus d’industrie pharmaceutique, d’une nouvelle proposition de la Bolivie, et de trois questions de propriété intellectuelle qui, bien qu’anciennes, n’ont pas connu de développement significatif.