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:
Author: James Love
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.
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.
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)
12 U.S. State Department Cables on Brazil Patent Policy
The following are selected cables from the US Department of State, obtained under the U.S. FOIA statutes, concerning patents and price negotiations on AIDS drugs. 2004 U.S. DoS Cable: GOB REACHES PRICING AGREEMENTS ON THREE MORE AIDS DRUGS – January… Continue Reading
KEI Statement on Westinghouse/Toshiba Kazatomprom Sale
FMI: James Love (202.332.2670) Today Toshiba announced (http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2007_08/pr1301.htm ) that it intends to transfer 10 percent ownership of Westinghouse's holding companies to Kazatomprom, a company owned by the government of Kazakhstan, at a price of US $540 million dollars. The… Continue Reading
2007: KEI Comments on the XM/Sirius Merger
Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of: Applications for Consent to the Transfer of Control of Licenses XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., Transferor, to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., Transferee MB Docket No. 07-57 To: The… Continue Reading
KazAtomProm acquisition of Westinghouse technology
Four groups, including KEI, have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS"), asking that it block a proposed sale of 10 percent of Westinghouse, the US nuclear energy firm,… Continue Reading
Four groups seek to block sale of Westinghouse stock and technology to Kazakhstan nuclear firm
Four groups, including KEI, have sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States ("CFIUS"), asking that it block a proposed sale of 10 percent of Westinghouse, the US nuclear energy firm,… Continue Reading