Intellectual Property Watch

Rod Of Justice For French Internet Infringers May Soften

Catherine Saez — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:45:36 +0000

The French "three-strike" law aimed at preventing illegal downloading of protected works on the internet, enacted in October 2009 after much controversy, may be modified by the newly elected French government, according to sources.

Russia’s Largest Social Network vKontakte Held Liable For Copyright Infringement

William New — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:01:26 +0000

The 13th Commercial Court of Appeal recently affirmed the decision of the Commercial Court of St. Petersburg in Russia’s leading P2P case ruling that the social network vKontakte, a Facebook lookalike, is liable for copyright infringement.

Governments, WHO, Reveal Industry’s Back-Channel Battle Against Tobacco Legislation

Catherine Saez — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:30:55 +0000

The shadow of the tobacco industry was present at last week’s annual World Health Assembly, featuring the villain in what World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan called a theatre of the absurd. The tactics of the "evil industry," as she called it, aimed at undermining countries' efforts to implement tobacco control legislations were illustrated with concrete country examples at a side event during the week.

EU Parliament Advises No Patent On Conventional Breeding

Catherine Saez — Tue, 29 May 2012 19:58:07 +0000

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution on the patenting of essential biological processes.

Golden Oldies? South African High Court Looks At What Is “Traditional”

William New — Tue, 29 May 2012 12:23:24 +0000

The question of the use of material in the public domain for the inspiration of new works has been complicated in South Africa by legislation which purports to grant retrospective perpetual protection to so-called “traditional works”. A case pending in the South African High Court highlights the question of what is “traditional” and raises the question of to whom music companies will have to look in the future to obtain permission to use anything that smacks of a traditional flavour. Prof. Owen Dean asks: Could this be a disincentive to use traditional material belonging in the public domain and thus slow cultural expression?

World Health Assembly: WHO Carves Out Leadership Role In “Vaccine Decade”

Rachel Marusak Hermann — Mon, 28 May 2012 18:43:31 +0000

With a generous pledge and a grand vision, Bill Gates launched the “Decade of Vaccines” two years ago. By endorsing a “Global Vaccine Action Plan” during the World Health Assembly, the world’s health authority stands as the lead agency in advancing the initiative.

World Health Assembly: Member States Call For Acceleration On Pandemic Flu Preparedness

Rachel Marusak Hermann — Sat, 26 May 2012 15:51:50 +0000

One year since the adoption of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, member states emphasised the importance of bio-sharing initiative and in some in cases raised concerns about the pace of implementation.

No Agreement On Future Work At WIPO Committee On Patents

Catherine Saez — Sat, 26 May 2012 14:28:59 +0000

A full day and an evening of informal discussions was not enough for the World Intellectual Property Organization member states to reach agreement on the future work of the patent committee yesterday. Developed and developing countries held firm to their positions after reconvening in plenary past midnight, with disappointment as sole common ground.

World Health Assembly: Members Gavel New Mechanism To Fight Poor-Quality Medicines

Rachel Marusak Hermann — Fri, 25 May 2012 22:19:20 +0000

World Health Organization member states have decided to establish a new mechanism for international collaboration to prevent and control “substandard, spurious, falsely-labelled, falsified and counterfeit medical products” (SSFFC). Excluding trade and intellectual property considerations, this mechanism is called to approach the problem strictly from a public health perspective.

World Health Assembly: Agreement Reached On Neglected Disease R&D Process, But No Convention

William New — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:38:32 +0000

A proposal at this week’s World Health Assembly to negotiate a binding convention on research and development for neglected diseases - those predominantly afflicting poor populations - ran into resistance from developed countries which hold the view that another approach might be possible. But an agreement was reached on a way forward for the expert report that recommended the binding convention.

Intellectual Property Watch

Rod Of Justice For French Internet Infringers May Soften

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