Category Venues

The Significance Of Uruguay’s Win Over Philip Morris International

The tobacco industry’s global efforts to use bilateral and multilateral agreements to challenge the spread of tobacco control measures such as trademark-minimising plain packages were dealt a significant blow last week when the World Bank dispute settlement body dismissed a case brought by Philip Morris against the government of Uruguay.

The decision is seen a landmark for those who view the company as using test cases to continually challenge and delay public health protection measures and discourage other countries, particularly those with fewer resources, from strengthening their health regulations. Additionally, the case reasserted that trademarks are subject to government regulations and also illustrated the role that international organisations and actors can play in support of national governments defending their health measures.

Blockstream’s New Patent Strategy: Trust Us, We Won’t Sue You

Blockstream, which developed the blockchain technology and bitcoin, has announced a defensive patent strategy. The crux of it: assurance that users of its technology won't be sued.

William New
July 21, 2016
1 Comment

Free Trade Agreements Threaten Farmers’ Rights, Food Security, Group Says

Small farmers around the world are threatened by new free trade agreements, a civil society group has argued. Those agreements go beyond the requirements of agreed international intellectual property rules and jeopardise the ability of small farmers to save, produce, and exchange seeds, the group said.

WHO Updates Patent Status Info For New Hepatitis C Medicines

The World Health Organization has issued updated information on the patent status of hepatitis C medicines, including assessments of hurdles for affordable generic versions of latest drugs.

William New
July 20, 2016
1 Comment

US Justice Department Nails Three In Mass Mailing Trademark Scam

A Wells Fargo bank manager in California worked with two colleagues to conduct a scam targeting trademark holders and launder the proceeds, the United States Department of Justice said today.

William New
July 20, 2016

AIDS Conference: Will The UN High-Level Panel Report Deliver R&D And Access To Medicines?

DURBAN, South Africa - The lessons derived from the history of AIDS treatment have become a rallying call for civil society organisations globally. Not being able to afford AIDS medicines should not be repeated for people with other diseases, including HIV co-infections, treatment activists told world leaders here.

UNCTAD14: Global Non-Tariff Measures Database Launched; Calls For Strengthened UNCTAD Heard

NAIROBI, Kenya (IP-Watch) -- A global database on non-tariff measures (NTMs) has been launched here at the 14th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD 14). Also this week the World Investment Forum kicked off, the first such event since agreement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Fredrick Nzwili
July 20, 2016

WHO: Countries Need To Step It Up On Noncommunicable Disease Commitments

Despite "remarkable" progress by some countries on addressing noncommunicable diseases like cancer and diabetes, there is a need to accelerate efforts in order to meet agreed global commitments, the World Health Organization said this week.

William New
July 19, 2016
2 Comments

Patenting By Universities Unhelpful, Paper Says; WIPO Programme To Be Reviewed

A new publication analysing the relationship between intellectual property and access to science explores ways countries have developed to counter the potential barriers created by IP rights, and says patenting by universities is counterproductive.

UK Government Called To Action To Further Boost IP Enforcement

The United Kingdom-based Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG) industry group launched a "manifesto" earlier this month, calling on the government to establish a more effective and comprehensive response to intellectual property crime.

EU Anti-Counterfeiting Rapid Intelligence System: One Database For All Data On IPR Infringement

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Commission Trade Directorate recently launched a new intellectual property enforcement tool that aims to pool together all data relating to IP rights infringement experienced by EU companies into one database to help build prevention strategies. This is one of many new EU initiatives to counter growing IPR infringement and counterfeits.

Alexandra Nightingale
July 19, 2016

CISAC: 90 Years In The Service Of Authors And Composers

The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC), the world's leading network of authors’ societies, has published a book looking back at its 90 years in existence. The CISAC Story - 90 Years in the Service of Authors and Creators Worldwide, was distributed in three languages at the Confederation’s General Assembly last month in Paris.

Alexandra Nightingale
July 19, 2016