Category Europe

Europe Assesses “Changed World” In Trade Politics

European Union trade politicians in several meetings this week in Brussels reflected on the future of trade policy, also impacted by the US elections. “It is a changed world, period,” Iuliu Winkler, vice-chair of the parliamentary International Trade (INTA) Committee (European People's Party) said at the opening of the EU Trade Policy Day, expressing the general sentiment. While many members of INTA committee underlined the need of Europe to press ahead with their trade negotiations internationally, those critical of an aggressive trade agenda were eager to have their arguments not to be mixed with what was criticised as populist fear-mongering against globalisation.

Lancet Report On Essential Medicines Takes Aim At Access, Affordability

A much-anticipated report on progress in global access to essential medicines released today has found that change is needed to the system of paying for research and development, including moving beyond sole reliance on patents to cover R&D costs. It calls for a global R&D policy framework, a possible patent pool for essential medicines, addresses financing issues, and claims to have developed a new cost model. Meanwhile, comments ranged from two ministers from the Netherlands said the system is broken while a leading industry executive criticised it for questioning the patent system.

Union Calls “Flash Demo” After EPO Fires Another Union Representative

The Staff Union of the European Patent Office (SUEPO) called a 7 November “flash” demonstration in Munich after the office fired Laurent Prunier, SUEPO secretary in The Hague. The move dismayed employees encouraged after the Administrative Council (AC), made up of the office's member states, last month pressured President Benoît Battistelli into backing off from two unpopular proposals for investigating and disciplining staff.

EU Commission Says Plants And Animals From Conventional Processes Not Patentable

The European Commission has issued its opinion on certain articles of the EU directive on biotechnological inventions, in particular the patentability of plants or animals obtained as a result of natural occurrence such as selection and crossing. The Commission found that the intention of the EU when drafting the legislation was to exclude such products from patentability.

Ottiglio Leaves IFPMA For Consultancy In Geneva

Mario Ottiglio is stepping down as director of public affairs, communications & global health policy at the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Geneva. He will be staying in Geneva as the managing director of the new office of the High Lantern Group, a US consulting firm.

Power Struggle In Russia As Internet Pirates Vie For Upper Hand

The Russian intellectual property industry is on the verge of a new scandal. Following the recent arrest of Sergey Fedotov, head of the Russian Authors’ Society (RAS), Russia’s leading public association for the protection of intellectual property rights, on the charge of multi-million ruble thefts, the Russian police has announced the initiation of criminal proceedings against Maxim Ryabyko, head of the Russian Association for the Protection of Copyright on the Internet (RAPCI).

Reader Alert: EU-Canada Trade Agreement (CETA) Signed In Brussels

With a delay of mere days, CETA, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the European Union and Canada, will be signed Sunday in Brussels by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker. This follows two weeks of uncertainty over the deal that includes not only tariff reduction, but also an attempt to harmonise regulation and set up a reformed investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism.

GIs: US Industry Claims Harm From Misappropriation Of Common Food Names

Representatives from US dairy trade associations joined the cross-industry Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) recently to present an economic analysis on the impact of European Union policies regarding geographical indications on the United States and its dairy industry.