Global Fund Launches New Funding Model
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, based in Geneva, has announced a new funding model that aims to allow for more strategic investment.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Category Innovation/ R&D
Russia Establishes Specialised Court For Intellectual Property Rights
As of 1 February 2013, a specialised court for intellectual property rights (the IPR Court) is instituted within the system of commercial (‘arbitrazh’) courts of the Russian Federation.
Global Health Giants, Trade Deals, And IP Play Central Role In 2013 Public Health Policy
The role of intellectual property in a wide range of public health challenges - access to medicines, vaccine prices, procurement strategies, and research for diseases of the poor - is a focal point in 2013 cutting across national, regional, and international policymaking.
Coalition Asks US Congress For Action On “Patent Trolls”
In an open letter to the US Congress House of Representatives Judiciary Committee today (27 February), a coalition of agencies, entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators, urged Congress to take action against "patent trolls, non-practicing patent-holding entities.
WIPO Members Struggle To Define Work Programme On Patents And Health
As the World Intellectual Property Organization’s patent law committee grapples with starkly differing positions on the topic of patents and health, the secretariats of WIPO, the World Health Organization and World Trade Organization presented to members how their first trilateral study on access to medical technologies and innovation could be used as an effective resource. While the secretariats emphasised the neutral, informative nature of the book, some members pointed to a need for greater analysis of the challenges developing countries face when trying to use patent flexibilities for access to medicines.
With Lively Start, African IP Conference Addresses Medicines Access, GIs
Johannesburg, South Africa -- The start of the Africa IP conference was the scene of a surprise protest action by Treatment Action Campaign health activists who ambushed the stage as South African Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies was about to welcome delegates to the three-day conference.
Change to UK Patents Act Removes Infringement For Use Of Clinical Trial Data
The United Kingdom government has announced a change to the UK Patents Act that it says will help keep the country’s life sciences industry at the forefront of innovation by removing certain risks of drug development companies infringing patents.
Obama Administration Announces New Open Access Policy
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) has issued a new policy memorandum increasing public access to federally funded scientific research, including peer-reviewed publications and digital data.
Report Finds Stronger Regulation Spurs Chemical Innovation
New research shows that more rigid laws regulating hazardous chemicals encourage innovation in both large and small companies, according to a report published by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
WTO: LDCs To Press For Extension For TRIPS, Plain Packaging Back
Least developed countries next week will ask that World Trade Organization members grant them another extension of the transition period to enforce intellectual property protection measures beyond the current date of 1 July 2013. In addition, the issues of plain packaging for tobacco products and innovation will be back on the agenda of the WTO intellectual property committee.
WIPO Patent Committee Moves Quickly Through Agenda; Heavy Lifting To Come
After months of delay, the Standing Committee of the Law of Patents (SCP) opened a meeting on 25 February at the World Intellectual Property Organization and will endeavour to advance negotiations on highly contentious issues including quality of patents, patents and health, and exceptions and limitations to patent rights.
Web-Based IP Assessment Tool Gets Update From USPTO
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today released an updated version of their web-based intellectual property assessment tool, which aims to make small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) more aware of their IP assests.