Intellectual Property Rights

Save The Date – 5 July 2017 – KEI side event @ WIPO SCP 26 – Compulsory licensing of patents in the United States

Posted on by Thiru

Knowledge Ecology International: Compulsory licensing of patents in the United States
DATE: Wednesday, 5 July 2017
TIME: 1 PM to 3 PM
VENUE: Room NB0.107, World Intellectual Property Organization

Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) cordially invites you to attend our side event during deliberations at the Twenty-Sixth Session of Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

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June 2017 – WTO TRIPS Council – Statement of India on IP and the Public Interest – Compulsory Licensing

Posted on by Thiru

As reported by Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), on 6 June 2017, the World Trade Organization (WTO), published a paper tabled by Brazil, China, Fiji, India, and South Africa entitled, “Intellectual Property and the Public Interest.” In their communication (IP/C/W/630), the proponents called for a series of discussions at the WTO TRIPS Council on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest. Continue Reading →

WTO TRIPS Council: Brazil, China, Fiji, India, and South Africa table agenda item on IP and the Public Interest

Posted on by Thiru

On 31 May 2017, the delegations of Brazil, China, Fiji, India, and South Africa tabled a paper to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council entitled “Intellectual Property and the Public Interest.” In their communication (IP/C/W/630), the proponents called for a series of discussions at the WTO TRIPS Council on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest. Brazil, China, Fiji, India, and South Africa proposed compulsory licensing as the first theme of IP and the Public Interest discussions at the TRIPS Council meeting in June 2017.

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WHA70: Statement of Portugal on the Global shortage of, and access to medicines and vaccines

Posted on by Thiru

Portugal delivered the following statement at the 70th World Health Assembly on agenda item, 13.3 – Global shortage of, and access to medicines and vaccines.

PortugalWHA70.png

In relation to the Report of the United Nations High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines (UNHLP), the delegation of Portugal quoted the intervention delivered by the Portuguese Minister of Health, Professor Campos Fernandes at the plenary of the 70th World Health Assembly.

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WHA70 – Side Event on Addressing Access Barriers and Affordability Challenges for Cancer Drugs – 24 May 2017

Posted on by Thiru

On Wednesday, 24 May 2017, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Oxfam and Stichting Health Action International (HAI) are convening a side event on addressing access barriers and affordability challenges for cancer medicines. This panel will take place in Salle IX of the United Nations Palais des Nations from 18:00 to 19:30.

Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Time: 18:00 to 19:30
Location: Salle IX, United Nations Palais des Nations

Panelists:

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14 March 2017 – Senate Finance Committee grills Robert Lighthizer (USTR nominee) on trade and IPR policies

Posted on by Thiru

On 14 March 2017, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee held confirmation hearings for Robert Lighthizer, President Donald Trump’s appointee for United States Trade Representative. During the Reagan administration, Lighthizer served as Deputy US Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador (Source: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=41174). Prior to his tenure as Deputy USTR, from 1981 to 1983, Lighthizer served as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Currently, he is a partner at Skadden Arps. Continue Reading →

8 March 2017 – Statement of the European Union – HRC 34 – Panel on Access to Medicines

Posted on by Thiru

On 8 March 2017, the European Union (EU) delivered the following statement to the Human Rights Council’s panel discussion on Access to Medicines. As the Human Right Council imposed a strict two minute limit on interventions, the EU was not able to raise the following two questions contained at the end of its intervention.

I have two questions for the Panel.

Could the panellists suggest further measures to promote a holistic approach to access to medicines?

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Notes on 2017 Special 301 Submissions

Posted on by Zack Struver

Wednesday, March 8, 2017, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will hold the first Special 301 Hearing of the Trump administration. This year, USTR received 63 submissions in advance fo the hearing from governments, civil society organizations, and industry groups.

This blog post pulls out interesting selections from the various submissions, and includes as attachments the submissions of selected organizations.
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8 March 2017 – Human Rights Council’s Access to Medicines panel set to discuss Report of UN HLP

Posted on by Thiru

On 8 March 2017, the Human Rights Council will convene a three hour Access to Medicines panel which will take place from 3 PM to 6 PM in Room XX of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. This panel is mandated by resolution 32/15 which passed at 32nd session of the Human Rights Council (June/July 2016). The resolution directed the Human Rights Council to convene an access to medicines panel at its 34th session in March 2017.

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1 March 2017 – WTO TRIPS Council – India’s intervention on the Report of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines

Posted on by Thiru

On 1 March 2017, India delivered the following statement during WTO TRIPS Council discussions on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Panel Report on Access to Medicines.

Agenda item 12: the United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Panel Report on Access to Medicines

Thank you Chairman.

At the outset, I would like to thank delegations of Brazil, China and South Africa who are also co-sponsors of this agenda item.

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