Original news and analysis on international IP policy
By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Assistance on intellectual property rights from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is helpful to developing countries but more coordination and a “reality check” are needed, according to Geneva-based government officials. The remarks were made by developing country…
The World Health Assembly today agreed to establish an intergovernmental group to develop a global plan on research and development for diseases predominantly affecting developing countries. The agreement reflects a bridging of significant gaps between parties on the issue a…
Debates over the intellectual property system, access to knowledge, and free and open source software are raging worldwide, but perhaps nowhere so much as in Brazil. And in that country, one forum for debate and analysis that stands out is…
MADRID – The plan of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to develop a roadmap on patents and research got substantial input at a conference here as the viewpoints of people favouring patents in research as well as…
A much-anticipated World Health Organization (WHO) report by a special commission looking at the relationship between intellectual property rights and research and development into diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries, makes some 50 recommendations on how to improve the situation. The…
The impact of copyrights on access to everything from digital books in libraries to online music was discussed at a 21 February side event of a World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) meeting on a development agenda. One of the main…
By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen and William New Non-governmental organisations attending this week’s meeting on a stronger development agenda for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) are working to remind participants of the key elements of the original proposals. In…
A World Health Organization commission on intellectual property rights has failed to meet its deadline for a report that was to be presented to the WHO Executive Board later this month because of disagreement among its members. The WHO Commission…
By Steve Gibb for Intellectual Property Watch Washington, DC–A US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) plan to privatise a prestigious open-access environmental science journal is drawing criticism from Democrats in the US Congress and activists who say public…
Washington, DC–United States technology industry leaders today decried the rapid growth in research and development in major industrialized and developing nations, including the rapid rise in patent applications in Asia, and urged fast action by the US government. In calling…