Civil Society, Elected Officials Rally Behind UNITAID Patent Pool
This week's consideration of an implementation plan for a medicines patent pool by the board of oversight body UNITAID stirred a stream of stakeholder letters from around the world.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Human Rights
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Meeting Stalls, But Begins To Breach ‘Trust Gap’
After an auspicious beginning on substantive issues, the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge committee stalled on matters of procedure at the end of its meeting last week. With no mandate, a committee working group will not meet in early 2010 as planned, and the full committee will move meet again sooner than scheduled to try to agree on process.
UNITAID Drug Patent Pool Implementation Hinges On Board
Implementation of a United Nations-related patent pool initiative that independent reviewers say could save millions of lives (and dollars) is set to be approved next week by the initiative’s board, though some observers fear resistance from strong patent beneficiaries, such as the foundation run by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. A confidential report on the initiative prepared for board approval is expected to show multiple benefits to implementation of the pool, but also some concerns, according to informed sources.
HIV/AIDS Treatment Access Policies: Emerging Incentives for Pro-Poor Changes to IP?
Daniele Dionisio argues some perspectives on health and IP might change now that controversial practices at the WTO, World Bank and IMF are increasingly under pressure, and that new government policy choices and actors on the world chessboard are emerging.
Mismatch On Traditional Knowledge Treaty Text, Negotiating Sessions At WIPO
The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (IGC) at the World Intellectual Property Organization began its first meeting under a newly-minted mandate yesterday, though it seems matters of procedure may again take up much of the space for discussions, according to several delegates.
Future Of Biotechnology And IP: Research Exemptions, Ceilings, Trade Secrets
Patenting of biotechnologies is a growing trend and is increasingly raising questions about legal and ethical implications and a lack of harmonisation, according to speakers at a recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) symposium.
Pharmaceutical Patent Pools Seen As A Life And Death Matter In Kenya
NAIROBI - At the headquarters of UNITAID and other groups seeking to boost access to HIV/AIDS medicine, the notion of a patent pool where drug companies would combine their intellectual property is seen as an important way to drive down drug costs.
In the Kenyan capital Nairobi, home of AIDS activist Nelson Otwoma, the patent pool is a matter of life and death.
UN Eyes Next Steps On Food Security; Biotech Pleased With Summit Mention
The United Nations food agency is working to strengthen a global food security committee following last week’s World Food Summit in Rome, but key observers deplored the lack of firm commitments at the gathering, while industry welcomed the mention of biotechnology in the summit declaration.
One (Almost) Happy Multi-stakeholder Family At The Annual Internet Governance Forum
If you don't count China, it was difficult to find people speaking against an extension of the non-decision-making Internet Governance Forum (IGF) of the United Nations at last week's gathering. An overwhelming majority of the 1,800 participants at the Egyptian tourist destination Sharm El Sheikh seemed to be in favour of the “multi-stakeholder” discussions taking place during the IGF events because they allow for better understanding on overarching issues like human rights and privacy or access problems in developing countries, but also the specialised problems with the internet infrastructure like internationalised domain names and the next generation internet, IPv6.
Ecuador To Define Its Compulsory Licence Legislation
Since Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa signed a decree on 23 October allowing compulsory licences, the national intellectual property office has been working on a mechanism for issuance those licences, which should be studied case by case, according to the national decree.
Time For Human Rights To Enter Into IP Policy Dialogue, Panel Says
Ensuring the right to development should become more integral to debates over intellectual property policy, said members of a panel last week. The World Intellectual Property Organization Development Agenda will play a crucial role in ensuring this integration if it happens, they added.
الوصول إلى الدواء الآمن قضية صحة عامة, ليس ملكية فكرية, على حد تعبير المشاركين.
قد تعيق مبادرات مكافحة التزييف الوصول إلى الأدوية لكنها لا تخفف مشكلة العقارات المزيفة، خصوصاً في الدول النامية، وذلك بحسب ما قاله الأعضاء المشاركون في حدث نظم مؤخراً من قبل معهد المجتمع المفتوح.