WIPO General Assembly 2014: Opening statement of the United States broaches IGC, broadcasting treaty and copyright L&Es

On Monday, 22 September 2014, Ambassador Pamela Hamamoto delivered this opening statement on behalf of the United States at the 2014 WIPO General Assembly.

Ten years on from the launch of the Development Agenda by Argentina and Brazil in 2004, the Obama administration expressed the following views on the Development Agenda:

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WIPO General Assembly 2014: Asia Pacific Group charts its position on Broadcast Treaty, Design Law Treaty and copyright L&Es

On Monday, 22 September 2014, Bangladesh delivered the following statement on behalf of the Asia Pacific Group. Here below is the Group’s position on WIPO’s normative work including copyright limitations and exceptions for libraries and archives, copyright limitations and exceptions for educational and research institutions and persons with other disabilities, the proposed Design Law Treaty, the proposed broadcasting treaty and proposed instruments for the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.

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WIPO’s new Senior Management Team: New faces for Copyright, Development, Global Issues and Patents

A long standing parlor game for WIPO insiders and observers during the summer of 2014 involved guessing the composition of WIPO’s new Senior Management Team (the team of deputy director generals and assistant director generals who form WIPO’s cabinet). On 16 September 2014, the WIPO secretariat laid this to rest by revealing the composition of the new WIPO Senior Management Team of deputy director generals and assistant director generals. New faces in the cabinet include: Mr. Continue Reading

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The Gilead HCV license: Glass half empty, or half full?

On Monday, September 15, 2014, Gilead announced licensing agreements with 7 generic drug manufacturers, for two of its HCV drugs, including sofosbuvir, which is currently the most important HCV drug, and the basis for Gilead’s value to shareholders. KEI’s statement from Monday, and links to other NGO comments are here: https://www.keionline.org/node/2082.

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Senator Wyden in 2012, on access to the TPP text

In 2012, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden was a strong advocate for providing the public with access to the TPP negotiating text. Now, as Chairman, the Senator has been silent on the public’s right to the text. This is an example of Wyden in 2012. Has his position changed?

Timestamp and notes on Wyden comments on need for transparency in TPP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUYCSSdhEC8

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WIPO General Assembly 2014: Hard Decisions on the Broadcast Treaty and work program on copyright limitations and exceptions

In the piece, WIPO General Assembly 2014: Hard Decisions on the Design Law Treaty and Treaty for Protection of Genetic Resources (22 July 2014), KEI highlighted the hard decisions awaiting the WIPO General Assembly (22 September 2014 to 30 September 2014) with respect to the Design Law Treaty, the imminent revision of the Lisbon Agreement to include geographical indications and WIPO’s work to conclude an instrument for the protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. Continue Reading

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13 May 2014: WHO Technical Consultation on Innovative Models for New Antibiotics’ Development and Preservation

In a concerted bid to contain the emerging threat posed by antibiotic resistance, in May 2014, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 67th World Health Assembly (WHA) passed WHA resolution 67.25 on “Antimicrobial resistance” instructing the WHO to “develop a global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance” by May 2015 (Source: WHO page on Draft Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance). Continue Reading

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