Category Human Rights

US Supreme Court Poised To Rule Human Genes Are Not Patentable

For decades, the United States has pioneered the patenting of human genes, and other countries have followed this lead. But the US will soon perform an abrupt about-face, most experts predict. When the US Supreme Court hands down its decision in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, the justices appear likely to rule that human genes are not patentable subject matter. And the ruling may go even farther, holding that other forms of human DNA are not patentable.

Steven Seidenberg
December 21, 2012
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UN Official Stresses Importance Of Civil Society In Internet Future

Frank La Rue, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, in a statement about last week's World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT), underlined the importance of civil society in discussions about the future of the internet.

Monika Ermert
December 21, 2012

European Human Rights Court: Internet Restriction Violates Freedom Of Expression

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled this week that “restriction of Internet access without a strict legal framework regulating the scope of the ban and affording the guarantee of judicial review to prevent possible abuses amounts to a violation of freedom of expression.”

Monika Ermert
December 20, 2012
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WIPO Treaty For Blind Negotiation Set For Mid-June In Marrakesh

After successfully agreeing to convene a high-level meeting in June to adopt a treaty creating copyright exceptions in the favour of visually impaired people, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates yesterday worked on modalities of the upcoming diplomatic conference.

Catherine Saez
December 19, 2012
1 Comment

WIPO To Negotiate Treaty For The Blind In June; ‘Still Some Distance To Travel’

In a swift 15 minute session this morning delegates at the World Intellectual Property Organization extraordinary assembly agreed to convene a high-level meeting in Morocco in June to finalise a treaty on international exceptions to copyrights on books in special formats for visually impaired people.

Catherine Saez
December 18, 2012
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WIPO Members En Route To Diplomatic Conference On Treaty For The Blind

After several hours in informal consultations, delegates attending the 42nd session of the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly (and 22nd Extraordinary Session) came out of the room this evening with good news.

Catherine Saez
December 17, 2012

WIPO Visually Impaired Treaty: Voices From Africa On Dire Situation

The World Intellectual Property Organization is on the verge of deciding on a high-level meeting paving the way for a new treaty to facilitate access to books to visually impaired people. Meanwhile, in Africa, far from plenary discussions, the situation on the ground reveals a dire need for change.

Catherine Saez
December 16, 2012
2 Comments

Publishers Seek Support For Their Approach To WIPO Treaty

As the World Intellectual Property Organization prepares to hold an Extraordinary General Assembly this week to decide on convening a high-level meeting to negotiate a new treaty on limitations and exceptions for blind and other visually impaired people, publishers are defending their position.

Catherine Saez
December 16, 2012

Great Expectations For WIPO Extraordinary General Assembly On Treaty For Blind

An Extraordinary General Assembly will take place tomorrow at the World Intellectual Property Organization to decide on convening a high-level meeting in 2013 to agree on a treaty on exceptions and limitations to copyright for visually impaired people, enabling them to have a better access to works in special formats.

Catherine Saez
December 16, 2012
2 Comments

US Isolated In Opposition To WIPO Treaty For The Blind, Group Says

The United States now stands alone in its opposition to a World Intellectual Property Organization treaty on copyright exceptions for blind and and other print-disabled readers, the World Blind Union (WBU) said today.

William New
December 3, 2012
1 Comment

ITU’s Touré Urges Syria To Restore Internet Access

UN International Telecommunication Union Secretary General Hamadoun Touré used a press conference on the eve of the much-anticipated World Conference on International Telecommunication (WCIT) which starts in Dubai next week to call on the Syrian government to investigate problems of access to the mobile network and internet in Syria and do "anything necessary to restore the access."

Monika Ermert
November 30, 2012

WHO Members Agree On “Strategic Work Plan” On Health R&D – But No Convention

After three days and two nights of tough negotiations to address the global gap in research and development for neglected diseases at the World Health Organization, member states agreed to endorse a strategic work plan that includes proposals on the coordination, financing, and monitoring of R&D expenditures separately, but not to advance the idea of an overarching framework. The recommendation for a global R&D convention proved divisive to the very end of the negotiations.