166 contracts disclosed in SEC filings include authorizations to use U.S. patents without consent from patent holders

On 12 October 2022, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) published a briefing note on the U.S. federal government FAR 52.227-1 authorizations (for non voluntary use of patents) disclosed in 166 SEC exhibits. KEI Briefing Note 2022:2, Federal government FAR 52.227-1 authorizations… Continue Reading

Informal, focused consultations (IFCs) on WHO’s pandemic treaty to address: 1) legal matters, 2) equity, 3) IP and access to pandemic response products, and 4) One Health, AMR, Climate and Zoonosis

As part of ongoing WHO negotiations on a pandemic treaty, the WHO secretariat is set to convene four informal, focused consultations (IFCs) on the following themes: 1) legal matters, 2) operationalizing and achieving equity, 3) intellectual property and access to… Continue Reading

7 July 2022: Human Rights Council adopts resolution on right to health resolution with references delinkage, solidarity, global public good, and the transfer of technology and know-how

On Thursday, 7 July 2022, the 40th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted, by consensus, a resolution on Access to medicines, vaccines and other health products in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of… Continue Reading

KEI review of 62 COVID 19 contracts reveals 59 authorizations for non-voluntary use of third party patents under 28 USC 1498

Since the COVID 19 Pandemic began, there has been a spirited debate over patent rights, including a highly publicized 20 month debate over a proposed WTO waiver on intellectual property rights. During that time a handful of countries have taken… Continue Reading

KEI letter to Roche requesting voluntary license to patents on risdiplam, a treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

This is a letter to Roche requesting a voluntary license to the patents on risdiplam, a treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). KEI-Risdiplan-patent-license-request-8july2022 This was the August 5, 2022 response from Roche. Roche-Response-to-Risdiplam-license-request–5Aug2022 KEI wrote to Roche again on February… Continue Reading

Human Rights Council heats up during informal talks on inequality, international solidarity, and intellectual property

UPDATE: On Monday, 4 July 2022, a revised version of the Core Group’s access to medicines, vaccines, and other health products resolution (A/HRC/50/L.13) was circulated. The current co-sponsors include: Argentina, Brazil, China, Ecuador,* Egypt,* India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Paraguay,… Continue Reading