Original news and analysis on international IP policy
By Kaitlin Mara Some intellectual property rights holders and their representative governments are looking with concern at the drive to hold discussions on draft modalities for IP issues in this week’s World Trade Organization mini-ministerial. Letters sent early this week…
By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch
When Biotechnology Industry Organization CEO Jim Greenwood meets with members of the United States Congress to talk to them about follow-on biologics, he brings a graphic model of an aspirin and a DVD showing the complex molecules of a biologic drug. He uses these visuals to help explain the differences between traditional chemical drugs and newer, cutting-edge biological ones being used in many breakthrough therapies for cancer, multiple sclerosis, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases.
The differences between traditional chemical drugs and biological ones is the crux of the debate going on in the United States as Congress and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) try to create a regulatory pathway that gives consumers greater access to cheaper, generic biological drugs, but still spurs innovation and protects innovator patent claims.
"When the legislation was introduced at the beginning of this Congress, most pundits expected that we'd oppose it," said Greenwood, a former House representative from Pennsylvania, told Intellectual Property Watch. "But that was a mistake the pharmaceutical industry made in the '80s - trying to resist the notion you could safely make generics …our view at BIO is that we need to follow the science, and science says you can make follow-on biologics that can be safe and can save the consumer money and therefore we support it."
By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – The ‘fragmented’ nature of Europe’s patent application system is harming small firms, a Brussels event has been told amid new efforts to harmonise it. Ever since the early 1970s, the European…
General Electric’s Ecomagination is an initiative launched in 2005 as a gathering/focal point for extant green technology as well as new research and development into clean technology. Ecomagination’s products include technologies for cleaner energy, notably wind turbines for collecting wind…
By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch
NEW YORK - The groundwork has been laid at the United Nations by governments, non-governmental organisations, and intellectual property and finance experts on how to use intellectual property assets to encourage credit around the globe while not interfering with intellectual property laws.
par Liza Porteus Viana pour Intellectual Property Watch Bien qu’en apparence, la réforme des brevets soit entrée dans une impasse au Congrès américain, l’administration Bush intensifie ses efforts pour qu’un projet de loi soit achevé au cours de la période…
By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch
NEW YORK - A United Nations group on Monday began debate on a publication aimed at helping the world's governments harmonise their secured financing and intellectual property laws.
The UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group VI is meeting in New York this week to hammer out differences various parties have on issues including transfer of intellectual property rights, creation of a security right, registries, and intellectual property rights related to tangible assets when those rights are used as collateral to secure credit.
By Catherine Saez BERLIN – About 8,000 trademark professionals and industry representatives from more than 130 countries have gathered at this week’s International Trademark Association (INTA) meeting from 17 to 21 May. Trademark lawyers mostly come to this annual event…
Por Liza Porteus Viana para Intellectual Property Watch Pese a un aparente estancamiento en la reforma del régimen de patentes en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos, la Administración Bush sigue presionando para que se finalice la aprobación de un…
By Liza Porteus Viana for Intellectual Property Watch Despite an apparent stalemate on patent reform in the United States Congress, the Bush administration is still pushing for a bill to be completed this congressional session. Speaking in California’s Silicon Valley…