Original news and analysis on international IP policy
By Rodrigo Cerda In the intellectual environment of universities, we have long discussed the tragic loss of life that occurs daily because sick people around the world cannot afford the drugs that could cure them. Indeed, we have reason to…
Por Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen y William New El informe del grupo de países desarrollados de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) sobre una reunión celebrada en septiembre revela la estrategia encubierta de ese grupo sobre armonización de…
By John T. Aquino for Intellectual Property Watch The 2006 elections in the United States have presented the world of intellectual property with a new set of guardians. In the 7 November congressional elections, Democrats took control of the House…
By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen A World Health Organization (WHO) director has taken the unusual step of writing a memorandum directly to the head of the WHO, seeking clarity on the organisation’s handling of a United States complaint involving WHO…
Packing their bags in Geneva: a key architect of the WIPO Development Agenda, a likeable South Korean IP negotiator, and the author of a controversial WHO report on TRIPS flexibilities and access to medicines. But staying in town is the new WHO director general. Read these and other comings and goings in the Intellectual Property Watch People column.
By William New Development and Internet governance issues may have gotten a boost at the United Nations International Telecommunication Union today as members elected Hamadoun Touré of Mali to be the next Secretary-General. Touré has been director of the ITU…
By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen BRUSSELS – When the European Commission’s plan to include neglected diseases in its next research programme was debated at a conference here, intellectual property rights played a rather small role. This is a good sign,…
By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Margaret Chan of Hong Kong (China) has been elected the next director general of the World Health Organization by a large majority of member governments, according to sources. “It is not a surprise that Chan…
By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen and William New The report from a September meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) developed country group reveals its behind-the-scenes strategy for handling a proposed development agenda at WIPO. The WIPO General Assembly…
By William New and Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The wealthy members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) have created a draft patent harmonisation treaty to be negotiated outside WIPO in the hope of removing basic differences in national and…