Delinkage Of R&D Costs From Product Prices
It is essential that policy makers reform the systems for financing R&D, and de-link the costs of R&D from the prices of products, says James Love.
Intellectual Property Watch
Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Switzerland Champions Disclosure Requirement In Patents, Counters US Interpretation
The government of Switzerland has issued a defence of its national law on disclosure of origin of genetic resources in patent applications, finding fault with the interpretation of its law by the United States. The Swiss response comes on the eve of a World Intellectual Property Organization meeting on related issues.
MSF Report Calls On Governments To Repair, Remodel Biomedical R&D
Governments are urged to do more to promote the development of desperately-needed new medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics at affordable prices and address the failures of research and development (R&D) in a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières.
WiFi Providers Can Be Forced To Require Passwords On Rightsholder Request, ECJ Rules
The European Court of Justice today ruled that a shop offering Wifi is not liable for copyright infringements on its network but may be forced by rightsholders to require passwords to use the network. [Update: Reactions are being added below]
‘High Noon’ Showdown Hearing In US Over Internet Control
Former US Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz today used a 3.5 hour hearing of a Senate subcommittee he chairs to attempt to scare the US Commerce Department National Telecommunications and Information Administration away at the last minute from its plans to transition out of its stewardship role for the internet root zone system.
WIPO Committee Approves Forbin As New Top Copyright Official
The nomination of Sylvie Forbin of France to be the next head of copyright issues at the World Intellectual Property Organization was finalised yesterday as the WIPO Coordination Committee approved her appointment. She starts work at WIPO on Monday.
UN High-Level Panel On Access To Medicines Issues “Landmark” Report
The long-awaited report by the United Nations High Level Panel on Access to Medicines was released today, making many recommendations. The panel calls for countries to embrace the policy space available in the World Trade Organization intellectual property rules, and invest more in health. It also calls for negotiation of a binding international treaty on research and development, delinking prices from R&D costs, greater transparency in drug pricing, public health impact assessments in free trade agreements, and encouragement to better use international legal tools available to countries to ensure affordable medical products. And it lays out the path ahead, calling for several new bodies to be created to take recommendations forward. [Note: story is being continuously updated during the day, now adding industry response]
European Commission Copyright Reform Proposal Sparks Many Jeers, Some Cheers
European Commission plans to overhaul EU copyright rules, officially published today, have prompted strong support and opposition. Controversy centres in particular around two proposals: The requirement that online services monitor against user-generated uploads of copyright-protected content, and the proposed grant of a “neighbouring right” to press publishers.
Judge’s Opinion That EU Is Competent To Ratify Marrakesh Treaty Might Break Standstill
The European Union has exclusive competence to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty on copyright exceptions for visually impaired people, the advocate general of the Court of Justice of the EU has found. This conclusion, which was well-received by representatives of the visually impaired, could speed up the ratification of the treaty by the EU.
Group Of Nations Demand UN Investigative Report On WIPO Director
About a dozen members of the World Intellectual Property Organization yesterday demanded to be provided with a report conducted by the United Nations Office of Investigation and Oversight Services (OIOS) on allegations against the WIPO director general.