Google’s cell phone prize
There have been many new stories about Google’s new prize for cell phone applications (Such as this one).
This is how the program is described by Google:
Unlock the value, $10 million prize for silver mining technology
On September 20, the The New York Times reported on Barrick’s announcement it would offer “a $10 million prize on Wednesday to any scientist, researcher or inventor who can increase the amount of silver the company recovers from a mine in Argentina.” The rules for the prize are set out here: http://www.unlockthevalue.com/
Tom Giovanetti on the R&D Treaty, and political science
Tom Giovanetti kindly sent me a link to his latest NGO bashing. This one titled: “IP skeptic NGOs as Marxists.” This is his attempt to label the various public health groups as Marxists, and his brief attempt to understand or describe a February 2005 proposal for one possible approach R&D Treaty.
First, I have told Tom Giovanetti several times that while his hysterical red baiting is amusing at times, it is also sometimes offensive and boring.
Reasons why the IGWG should not place limits on the scope of diseases
In attempting to address problems of access to medicines in developing countries, it is not productive to utilize any typology to limit the scope of diseases that are to be part of the WHO Global Strategy and Plan of Action’s focus for the next 7 years.
Sweden, acting badly
I’m not sure who has been sharing this on the list, but the very worst country in the negotiations, among the 190+ members of the WHO, is, without a doubt, Sweden. Sweden has been making it very difficult for Europe to take reasonable positions in the negotiations, and Sweden is consistently taking the most extreme positions in the negotiations among the European countries, and competing with Mexico for the most anti-consumer views in the room.
IGWG2 awards
The IGWG Negotiations are coming to the end, and although it is not clear what the package the negotiators will deliver is, enough of the process has been seen to rate the performances of some of the actors.
Mexico’s proposed deletion of consumer rights in the IGWG Text
Tomorrow morning (Friday the 9th), the IGWG finally takes up Element 5, the intellectual property text. These are the deletions to the text being requested by Mexico.
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ELEMENT 3
This would include:
building innovative capacity in science and technology and traditional medicine/genetic resources, in agreement with the legislation existing in the Parties on this issues;
rational health-orientated intellectual property management. (Mexico suggest delete)
Former WIPO employee (now with PhRMA) moonlights as BIO bouncer
Richard Kjeldgaard, a former Senior Counsellor in the Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and now employed by the U.S. based Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) performed his role as “bouncer” admirably today at a luncheon organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
Propuesta: Pools de Patentes para el Cancer
Boletín Fármacos has asked me to write a short summary of one of KEI’s projects. I chose to present a patent pool for medical technologies related to the prevention and treatment of cancer. Please find the article below. It is also available: http://www.boletinfarmacos.org/092007/ventana_abierta.asp
Notes on a panel discussion on IP and free trade with government and industry representatives
A Panel Discussion on Policy Approaches to Intellectual Property Enforcement and the Impact on Trade Agreements
Organized by the Property Rights Alliance, this event was hosted by the Intellectual Property Caucus and sponsored by Rep. Tom Feeney.
Date: 12:00-1:30pm October 4, 2007
Venue: Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC
Attendance: Congressional staff, industry representatives, other interested parties.