Category Finance

SMEs, Innovation Division, External Offices Capture Attention At WIPO

The proposed establishment of new World Intellectual Property Organization external offices gave way to a lot of discussion today (11 September) in the WIPO committee overseeing programmes and budget. Other targets of debate: small and medium-sized enterprises, accountability for the WIPO Global Issues Division, implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty on copyright exceptions for the blind, and potential treaty negotiations in the next biennium - all with no decisions yet.

WIPO Strives For “Prudent” Course On Programme and Budget

Country delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization this week have started ploughing through the extensive agenda of the committee overseeing the budget and the programmes of the organisation. They are struggling to find agreement on agenda items and are deferring decisions for later in the week. Meanwhile, the WIPO director general presented the proposed budget and reaffirmed the importance of development.

WHO Now Charging Fees For Drug Prequalification, Raising Access Fears

The World Health Organization, the United Nations health agency in persistent financial straits, has announced it must begin charging a fee to manufacturers seeking prequalification of their vaccines and diagnostics. The announcement stirred concern among public health advocates that it might have a negative effect for procurement and access to life-saving medicines.

Clock Ticking For Multilateral Trading System, Intermission Over, Says New WTO Head

For new World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevêdo, it is time the WTO reclaims its role in the multilateral trading system. In his opening address to member states today, he called for compromises and a joint effort to restore trust in the system and to reach a successful outcome at the December WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia.

Nominee For US Ambassador To UN In Geneva An Obama Childhood Friend, Major Fundraiser

The White House recently announced the nomination of Pamela Hamamoto, a childhood friend and major fundraiser of President Obama's, to be the next ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, including agencies like the World Intellectual Property Organization, World Health Organization and International Telecommunication Union.

Report: Core Patent Holdings By Nokia, Other Faded Telecoms, May Lead To Increased Litigation

They may be fading from consumers' minds, but former telecommunications giants such as Nokia hold huge swaths of core technology patents, a new report shows. The companies are positioned to shift roles from manufacturers to so-called patent trolls, or patent assertion entities. Nokia this week announced a large, non-exclusive licensing deal with Microsoft.

Survey: US Health Agency Should Use Patent Rights To Keep Drugs Affordable

A new survey supports the argument of public health advocates that pharmaceuticals resulting from government-funded research in the United States should be no more expensive than in other similar countries, and that patent rights should be used to make it so.

WIPO Director Calls For “Re-Thinking” Intellectual Property

World Intellectual Property Organization Director General Francis Gurry last week issued a call for a redefinition of the functions of the IP system in the context of a fast-changing and globalised world.