Category Venues

Does Introduction Of A Utility Model Protection Regime Make Sense In India?

India has at least seven diverse intellectual property (IP) legislations related to protection already in place. Its focus should therefore arguably be directed - along the lines of many other IP jurisdictions - on more stringent enforcement modus operandi of the IP rights. Is there scope for introducing yet another IP legislation – the utility model protection law - in the Indian IP landscape and if so, what should be its scope and implication, asks Swarup Kumar.

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Did US Move Threaten Public Health?

Civil society groups say a leaked document from regional free trade negotiations between countries bordering the Pacific Ocean shows the United States favouring giant pharmaceutical companies at the expense of public health. Separately, the tobacco industry is allegedly also trying to push for a clause to prevent plain packaging.

Medicines Patent Pool Boosts HIV Drug Prospects With First Licence

The Medicines Patent Pool and pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences today announced a breakthrough licence agreement to allow for the production of key HIV medicines at lower cost and in an easier-to-use formulation, making them more accessible to developing countries. The agreement also opens up the use of treatments for Hepatitis B for the first time.

William New
July 12, 2011
4 Comments

WIPO Ventures Into Global Debate On Climate Change

The World Intellectual Property Organization is continuing its push to become involved in some of the biggest policy questions of the day with an international conference on climate change next week. This follows recent efforts on public health and food security.

Catherine Saez
July 8, 2011

UN Body Addresses Problems With IP Rights Within Europe

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is holding a two-day meeting to increase awareness of intellectual property rights throughout the region.

William New
July 8, 2011
3 Comments

Non-Communicable Diseases Issue Energises Public Health Policymakers

Concern over non-communicable diseases - traditionally a more developed-country set of problems like diabetes - is energising the international public health policy community. But representatives of the public interest are still grappling with their response.

William New
July 7, 2011

CERN Issues Open Hardware Licence For Electronic Designs

The European Organisaton for Nuclear Research (CERN) today issued an open hardware licence for electronic designs, following its principle of “open science.”

Spain, Italy File Opposition To EU Unitary Patent

The governments of Spain and Italy have filed complaints with the European Court of Justice calling for the annullment of a March European Council decision to create an EU unitary patent.

William New
July 7, 2011
2 Comments

WHO Expert Group Sifts Ideas For A New Global Drug R&D Mechanism

A diverse team of global experts on public health research and development will meet this week behind closed doors to analyse proposals for ways to fund R&D on diseases afflicting poor populations – and for who should coordinate such global efforts.

William New
July 5, 2011
1 Comment

WIPO Panel Weighs Role Of Internet Intermediaries In Online Copyright Infringement

The role and responsibility of internet intermediaries in the protection of copyright is under debate in several policy fora and often brings up issues such as privacy, access to knowledge, and freedom of expression. A panel was organised last week at the World Intellectual Property Organization to explore the viewpoints of several but not all stakeholders on this issue.

Catherine Saez
July 1, 2011

OECD Holds Ground On Strong IP Internet Policy Principles

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) today published a communiqué on principles for internet policy-making slanted toward intellectual property enforcement after fending off efforts by public interest groups to soften some of its edges.

Monika Ermert
June 30, 2011
1 Comment

OECD Faces Concerns Over Its Internet Policy Principles

A high-level meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is expected to pass a set of "principles on internet policymaking" tomorrow. But over 80 non-governmental groups have announced they will not sign on to the communiqué.