Original news and analysis on international IP policy
By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch CAIRO – African countries recently approved a plan to set up a parliamentary knowledge network to enhance legislative and institutional capacity for creating science and technology-based legislation including intellectual property rights. But the…
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 Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Despite earlier statements by European negotiators that the planned Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) would need time for fine-tuning, nations seem to accept a fast track movement now. ACTA has been mentioned as an…
By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Seventeen African ministers of arts and culture have officially launched the newly formed Southern and Eastern Africa Copyright Network (Seaconet) in a bid to strengthen regional collaboration and cooperation in the field of…
Par Catherine Saez Selon certains participants à une réunion-débat qui s’est tenue récemment, le transfert de technologie vers les pays les moins avancés (PMA) a été freiné par divers facteurs, comme la réticence des entreprises des pays développés à établir…
Por Catherine Saez La transferencia de tecnología a los países menos adelantados (PMA) se ha visto obstaculizada por diversos factores, entre ellos, la renuencia de empresas de países desarrollados a realizar negocios o inversiones extranjeras directas, la incapacidad de los…
By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Leaders of the Group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries (D-8) this week adopted an ambitious 10-year blueprint to substantially expand trade and economic cooperation with the aim of improving the position of Muslim…
Por Dugie Standeford para Intellectual Property Watch MANCHESTER, REINO UNIDO- El marco básico del régimen de propiedad intelectual (PI) pretende “obstaculizar el acceso al conocimiento” en lugar de permitir su difusión, según afirmó el Profesor Joseph Stiglitz durante una conferencia…
By Claudia Jurberg for Intellectual Property Watch RIO DE JANEIRO – Last year, Brazil and India presented their candidacies and were accepted to operate as international authorities for patent searches at the World Intellectual Property Organization. In addition, Brazil suggested…
By Drew Clark for Intellectual Property Watch
WASHINGTON, DC - Two recent court decisions against key United States internet companies - Google and eBay - are almost certain to reopen a long-standing truce between intellectual property rights-holders and website operators, over liability for the actions of users.