Comments by WIPO SCP Members and Observers on the WIPO Report on the International Patent System
On 3 February 2009 WIPO released the revised Report on the International Patent System (SCP/12/3 Rev.2) with three annexes. Continue Reading
Intervention by the European Communities (EC) at WTO General Council on the seizure of losartan by Dutch customs authorities
On 3 February 2009, Ambassador Eckart Guth of the European Communities to the World Trade Organization made the following intervention at the WTO General Council on the subject of the seizure of losartan by the Dutch customs authorities.
WTO GENERAL COUNCIL (3rd February 2009)
Any Other Business
EC INTERVENTION
Details emerge of secret ACTA negotiation
There are plans for the next ACTA negotiation to take place in Rabat, Morocco. However, since none of the Obama trade people have been placed at USTR, this might be delayed.
The USTR is still maintaining secrecy over details of the negotiation, including the names of participants and all of the proposed texts for negotiations. Despite this, KEI has obtained some documents related to the negotiations. We can report the following:
Intervention by Brazil at WTO General Council on seizure of 500 kilos of generic medicines by Dutch customs authorities
On this day, 3 February 2009, H.E. Ambassador Roberto AZEVÊDO, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other economic organizations in Geneva made the following intervention at the WTO General Council meeting on the seizure by Dutch authorities of a cargo of 500 kilos of losartan potassium en route from India to Brazil.
Senator Judd Gregg and the pharmaceutical industry
Judd Gregg will reportedly be appointed as Sec. of Commerce today.
Here a few data points on pharmaceutical issues.
Deciphering consultant speak: Romulus, a case study
Romulus
Although the founding of Rome is a mystery, the myths of its origin hold that Romulus and Remus, the sons of Mars and Rhea Silvia, abandoned by their parents on the banks of the river Tiber, were suckled by a she-wolf, Lupa. Upon reaching adulthood, Romulus and Remus vied for control of Rome. According to Wikipedia,
Norm setting on copyright limitations and exceptions at WIPO: What is ready?
Over the past several weeks there have been a several cases where some well motivated and knowledgeable persons about copyright policy have expressed criticism of an effort by WIPO to negotiate a treaty for persons who are blind or have other reading disabilities, on the grounds that this is not ambitious enough, and a larger all inclusive treaty on limitations and exceptions should be the target.
$2 billion and $147 billion: WHO releases detailed costing estimates for implementing WHO IGWG plan of action
On 21 January 2009, WHO released a document (EB124/16 Add.2) relating to the global strategy and plan of action of the public health, innovation and intellectual strand of its work entitled “Proposed time frames and estimated funding needs“. This document is a costing exercise to “estimate funding needs for the implementation of the plan”. Continue Reading
WIPO patent committee resumes work on a positive agenda (March 2009)
The 13th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) will take place from March 23, 2009 to March 27, 2009 in Geneva at WIPO headquarters. The WIPO Report on the International Patent System is the first substantive agenda item of the 13th session. Continue Reading
Knowledge as a Public Good: remarks at the World Forum on Science and Democracy, held in Belém, Brasil
The following are KEI's January 26, 2009 remarks at the World Forum on Science and Democracy, held in Belém, Brasil, an event that is affiliated with the World Social Forum, which is also taking place in Belém the same week.