Category Human Rights

WIPO Development Agenda Needs More Promotion, Country Involvement, Experts Say

Has the adoption of the World Intellectual Property Organization Development Agenda in 2007 changed the culture of the organisation, and what did it achieve? According to panellists at a side event to this week’s WIPO General Assembly, the Development Agenda has not yet changed the culture of the organisation and its primary focus to support and protect intellectual property. However, WIPO should follow the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and collaborate with other UN agencies to include development consideration in its work, they say.

Catherine Saez
October 5, 2016

Big Week For WIPO Marrakesh Treaty On Access For Visually Impaired; Human Rights Side Under Focus

The World Intellectual Property Organization treaty on copyright exceptions for print-disabled readers entered into effect on 30 September, and trading in accessible format works began immediately. This week, the treaty will be a highlight of the annual WIPO General Assemblies, and is expected to come up at the parallel UN Social Forum taking place next door.

William New
October 3, 2016
3 Comments

US Supreme Court To Decide If USPTO Refusal To Register Trademarks Breaches Free Speech

The US Supreme Court agreed on 29 September to take up the question of whether the Lanham Act, which allows the US Patent and Trademark Office to refuse to register disparaging trademarks, conflicts with the First Amendment right to free speech.

Dugie Standeford
September 30, 2016
1 Comment

Developing Countries Should Be Able To Shield Their Markets From Cheap Food Imports, Panel Says

In the temple of international trade and globalisation, a group of speakers called for developing countries to protect themselves against dumping of food products from developed countries.

Catherine Saez
September 30, 2016

UN Panel Report On Access To Medicines Seen As Holding Potential For Change

NEW YORK – Speakers at a side event to the United Nations General Assembly last week commended a new report on access to medicines prepared by a high-level panel hand-chosen by the UN secretary general as containing fresh ideas and the potential to bring change to a longstanding problem.

William New
September 29, 2016

Panel On The Right To Scientific Progress And Freedom For Scientific Research

Scientists, national and United Nations representatives, academia and civil society this week explored and elaborated on the right to enjoy scientific progress and the freedom which is indispensable for scientific research. The right was placed in the context of today’s global challenges and scientists presented the latest examples of their research, in which human rights related to freedom of scientific research could be applied. The panel set out promote systematic dialogue to foster an understanding of the right and of what is being advanced.

Alexandra Nightingale
September 23, 2016
1 Comment

Shared Experiences Of Indigenous Peoples In The WIPO Negotiating Process

Members of indigenous communities this week shared their experiences in negotiating for their rights at the World Intellectual Property Organization and gave their advice on negotiations for potential treaties on genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore.

Alexandra Nightingale
September 22, 2016

Mass Protests Against TTIP, CETA In Germany

In Berlin, Hamburg and five other cities in Germany, some 320,000 citizens today protested against the adoption of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

Monika Ermert
September 17, 2016
2 Comments

MSF Report Calls On Governments To Repair, Remodel Biomedical R&D

Governments are urged to do more to promote the development of desperately-needed new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics at affordable prices and address the failures of research and development (R&D) in a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières.

Alexandra Nightingale
September 15, 2016

UN High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines Issues “Landmark” Report

The long-awaited report by the United Nations High Level Panel on Access to Medicines was released today, making many recommendations. The panel calls for countries to embrace the policy space available in the World Trade Organization intellectual property rules, and invest more in health. It also calls for negotiation of a binding international treaty on research and development, delinking prices from R&D costs, greater transparency in drug pricing, public health impact assessments in free trade agreements, and encouragement to better use international legal tools available to countries to ensure affordable medical products. And it lays out the path ahead, calling for several new bodies to be created to take recommendations forward. [Note: story is being continuously updated during the day, now adding industry response]

Catherine Saez
September 14, 2016
10 Comments

Judge’s Opinion That EU Is Competent To Ratify Marrakesh Treaty Might Break Standstill

The European Union has exclusive competence to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty on copyright exceptions for visually impaired people, the advocate general of the Court of Justice of the EU has found. This conclusion, which was well-received by representatives of the visually impaired, could speed up the ratification of the treaty by the EU.

Catherine Saez
September 14, 2016
5 Comments

Two US Congressional Leaders Criticize WTO For Stance On Trade Remedy, Food Safety Measures

From a press release issued today: "House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) today sent a letter to World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, criticizing the WTO Secretariat’s stance on measures it views as protectionist, and urging the office to better support the rules-based global trading system."

William New
September 8, 2016
1 Comment