Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman are often described as the pioneers of the mRNA discoveries that underpin the first COVID-19 vaccines. In 2005 both scientists published a paper reporting that a slightly tweaked version of mRNA that can be administered… Continue Reading
UPDATE: On Friday, 27 November 2020, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published document WO/CC/79/2, Appointment of Deputy Directors General and Assistant Directors General, in all six United Nations languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) confirming the information… Continue Reading
On Friday, 20 November 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened an informal, virtual meeting of the TRIPS Council to discuss a proposal (IP/C/W/669) co-sponsored by Eswatini, India, Kenya, and South Africa for a waiver from certain provisions of the… Continue Reading
Some good, some bad and clearly some showing awareness that the pandemic has changed some rules of the (copyright) game Group B highlighted the need for remuneration of creators as well as the importance of measures at the national level.… Continue Reading
Today, the hybrid (virtual and @WIPO)Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights meeting went more smoothly than yesterday. The tech was checked and tested before the meeting and except for a few statements (some visual or audio failures) we heard… Continue Reading
17 November 2020 Oral statement of Knowledge Ecology International – agenda item 5 – Protection of broadcasting organizations. New measures to address signal theft are one thing. But durable post-fixation rights to entities that just retransmit works by authors, performers… Continue Reading
The WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights is meeting (not as usual) from 12 to 14:30(CET) everyday this week. Day 1 has not gone smoothly because of technological challenges and the Secretariat eventually decided to stop the meeting.… Continue Reading
KEI is an accredited non-state actor at the World Health Organization (WHO). This was the oral statement we delivered during the resumed session of the WHA 73 in November 2020. Our statement focused on agenda item 11.9 – Global strategy… Continue Reading
On November 7, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted another COVID-19 vaccine contract: the $1 billion agreement between Janssen Pharmaceutical (a component of Johnson & Johnson (“J&J”)) and the U.S. government (through an intermediary called Advanced… Continue Reading
DRAGONS’ LAIR Thursday, 12 November 2020 – 15:00 CET, 14:00 UTC On Thursday, 12 November 2020 from 14h00 UTC to 15h30 UTC, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) invites you to Dragons’ Lair – a pitch for WIPO’s work program for the… Continue Reading