HIF in the European Parliament
Today there will be a presentation at the European Parliament on the Health Impact Fund. Below are a few earlier KEI blogs about the HIF.
Author: James Love
April 2011 report on negotiations for a WIPO copyright treaty for persons who are blind or have other disabilities
KEI Research Note 2011:1
April 7, 2011
Background and update on negotiations for a WIPO copyright treaty for persons who are blind or have other disabilities
Introduction
KEI presentation to the WHO Consultive Expert Working Group on R&D
Attached below are two PDF files that were used in my presentation today at the 1st meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO). I did not following the text that closely. The WHO is making a video of all of the presentations, which will be made available later. Continue Reading
Maria Martin-Prat reported to replace Tilman Lueder as head of unit for copyright at European Commission
According to stories in the German and French press (links below), Tilman Lueder will be leaving his position as the head of union for copyright for the European Commission, for a new EC job in China. [The FT confirms Tilman is leaving, but suggests he will have a different assignment]. Tilman will reportedly be replaced by Maria Martin-Prat. Continue Reading
KEI to appeal USTR rejection of FOIA of Congressional Research Service (CRS) study of ACTA
USTR has rejected a KEI FOIA request for a Congressional Research Service study of ACTA that was done for Senate Ron Wyden. Senator Wyden shared the report with USTR. USTR acknowledges that it has possession of the document, but asserts it does not have control. Public Citizen has agreed to represent KEI in an appeal of the decision. Our administrative appeal was filed today.
March 23, 2011
FOIA Appeals Committee
Office of the Untied States Trade Representative
1724 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20508Re: Freedom of Information Act Appeal
Note on use of Orphan Drug Act to increase price of hydroxyprogesterone caproate from $10 to $1,500 per dose
(Following discussions with Ed Silverman of Pharmalot, this blog was updated at 12 pm on March 22, to add some suggestions as to how to reform the Orphan Drug Act).
This note concerns an increase in the price of hydroxyprogesterone caproate, from $10 to $20 per dose to $1,500 per dose. (Several injections are needed). Long used off label to prevent premature births, the drug will be sold by KV Pharmaceuticals, under a newly granted right under a statutory monopoly, at 150 times the price of the generic product using the trade name Makena.
MEP Franciso Sosa Wagner poses question about support for WIPO treaty for persons who are blind or have other disabilities
Francisco SOSA WAGNER, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Spain, has submitted a question to the European Commission on the WIPO negotiations for a treaty for persons who are blind or have other disabilities.
David Hammerstein has provided the following translation into English:
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United States Patent and Trademark Office’s “Humanitarian Pilot Proposal.” Comments by KEI, MSF, Oxfam, PC and UAEM
The USPTO is considering a pilot program to consider the benefits of providing a voucher for certain accelerated reviews of patent applications, as a reward for licensing patents for humanitarian uses. On March 2, 2011, Anne Guha provided a very useful summary of public comments on the proposal, which is available here: https://www.keionline.org/node/1074
Michel Barnier tells the European Blind Union the EU does not support a treaty for persons with disabilities
On March 2, 2011, Michel Barnier, the EC Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, wrote to Dan Pescod of the European Blind Union, to defend the European Commission decision to back a soft alternative to a treaty at WIPO. (More context, including the text of all of the proposals at WIPO, here. Continue Reading
Seven being considered for new US Register of Copyrights
Apparently it is now down to seven final candidates to be the new US Register of Copyrights. These include two employees of the Copyright Office (Carson and Kasunic), a lawyer in private practice (Fries), a full time professor (Brauneis), a professor/USPTO negotiator (Hughes), a trade negotiator (McCoy), and a representative of a trade association (Perlmutter). By gender, the finalists are two women, and five men.
They are, in alphabetical order:
Robert Brauneis
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