KEI statement on GSK’s announcement of policies to expand access to patented medicines
GSK has made a major announcement of new policies to expand access to its patented medicines. A copy of the press statement is here. Continue Reading
Intellectual Property Rights
WHO Director-General Remarks in support of global pooling of rights in COVID-19 Technologies and data, in open science and open data
On April 6, 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, gave a media briefing on COVID-19 and the WHO’s efforts to combat the pandemic. In his remarks, Dr. Tedros specifically highlighted the proposal by the… Continue Reading
Canadian Policy option that can permit the government to exercise rights in patents arising under procurement contracts in Canada, if “prior obligations” exist, and how that relates to WHO COVID-19 pooling proposal
In Canada, the foreground intellectual property arising under procurement contracts by default belongs to the contractor. However, there are several exceptions to this rule. One key policy provision allows the government to claim title of the foreground intellectual property “where…… Continue Reading
KEI and Public Citizen letter to Congress regarding Costa Rica proposal for WHO COVID-19 pool of rights in technology and data
The following is a letter that KEI and Public Citizen sent to Congressional leadership on March 26, 2020, supporting the proposal by the President of Costa Rica to the World Health Organization to create a pool for rights in technology… Continue Reading
Open letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Member States on the proposal by Costa Rica to create a global pool for rights in the data, knowledge and technologies useful in the prevention, detection and treatment of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic
March 27, 2020. We are writing to ask the WHO and its Member States to support the proposal by Costa Rica for the creation of a global pooling mechanism for rights in the data, knowledge and technologies useful in the… Continue Reading
President and Minister of Health of Costa Rica ask WHO to create global pool for rights in COVID-19 related technologies
(KEI blogs and other work on COVID-19 are here: https://www.keionline.org/coronavirus) A letter from Costa Rica, signed by Carlos Alarado Quesada, the President, and Dr. Daniel Salas Peraza, the Minister of Health, to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was sent this evening… Continue Reading
Israel issues compulsory license to allow the government to import generic versions of Kaletra
(More on COVID-19 here: https://www.keionline.org/coronavirus) On Wednesday, 18 March 2020 (22nd of Adar, 5780), Israel’s Minister of Health, MP Rabbi Yaacov Litzman, issued a Permit to the State to Exploit an Invention Pursuant to Chapter Six, Article Three of the… Continue Reading
Legislative Committee in Ecuador approves resolution on compulsory licensing of patents relating to the coronavirus
For more on KEI’s work on COVID-19, see keonline.org/coronavirus. Today, the Education, Culture, Science and Technology Commission of the National Assembly in Ecuador approved a resolution asking the Minister of Health to issue compulsory licenses over patents related to coronavirus… Continue Reading
Chilean Chamber of Deputies approves resolution for compulsory licenses for patents relating to the coronavirus virus
For more on KEI’s work on COVID-19, see keonline.org/coronavirus. Today, with an overwhelming 127 votes in favor and 0 votes against, the Chilean Chamber of Deputies approved a strong resolution asking the Chilean Government to declare that there is justification… Continue Reading
Patent Troll Files Lawsuit to Block Possible Coronavirus Diagnostic
For more on KEI’s work on COVID-19, see keonline.org/coronavirus. Global health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic call upon us to answer to the better angels of our nature. Not all are heeding that call. Instead of cooperation and selflessness,… Continue Reading
WIPO’s Coordination Committee nominates Daren Tang of Singapore for the Post of Director General
Updated between 11 March 2020 to 18 March 2020 to include reactions from stakeholders on the nomination of Daren Tang (Singapore) as Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Brook K. Baker, Senior Policy Analyst Health GAP (Global… Continue Reading