WIPO SCCR discusses modalities for text based discussions on libraries and archives
Wednesday, Morning Session
23 November 2011
General statement of the United States of America at SCCR 23
The United States delivered its general statement to the 23rd session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) on Monday, 21 November 2011. The following text is captured from WIPO’s live stream of this meeting.
General statement of Knowledge Ecology International at SCCR 23 supporting TVI and AV treaty and opposing Broadcasting Treaty
General statement of Knowledge Ecology International
SCCR 23
21 November 2011
The SCCR is beginning a long meeting that will attempt to address proposals for norm setting on copyright limitations and exceptions, and for related rights for audiovisual performances and broadcasting organizations.
Pharma company registered lobbying expenditures for USA
According to OpenSecrets.Org, the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector has reported $115,571,832 in lobbying for 2011, a number that will grow considerably when all quarterly reports are filed. The top lobbying outlays were reported by PhRMA, the trade association, followed by Pfizer, Amgen, Merck, Lilly, Novartis, Bayer and GSK. The top generic company was Teva, which ranked 12th overall. As reported by OpenSecrets, some firms are listed more than once, for lobbying outlays by different subsidiaries. Continue Reading
WHO CEWG to pave the way for binding global convention on biomedical R&D
On Friday, 18 November 2011, the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on research and development: financing and coordination (CEWG) held an open briefing on the results of its work thus far. This meeting was attended by delegates from Bangladesh, Brazil, the European Union, Germany, the Holy See, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Tanzania, United States in addition to representatives from the Global Fund, South Centre, WHO, WIPO, UNITAID, Berne Declaration, HAI, KEI, IFPMA, MPP, MSF and TWN.
Accessible formats for people with visual disabilities: a human right requiring a binding legal instrument
Next week, the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR 23) will meet beginning on 21 November and continue through 2 December 2011. One issue that will be discussed is a possible treaty for copyright limitations and exceptions for persons who are visually impaired or have other disabilities. A treaty is necessary to provide minimum standards for limitations and exceptions to permit the creation of accessible format works and also to facilitate cross-border sharing of these works. Continue Reading
How the US government subsidized Ron Perelman’s smallpox drug: ST-246 (Tecovirimat)
On November 13, 2011, the Los Angeles Times published a story by David Willman on a no-bid contract with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to supply the government with a drug for smallpox. The LA Times story begins with this:
Over the last year, the Obama administration has aggressively pushed a $433-million plan to buy an experimental smallpox drug, despite uncertainty over whether it is needed or will work.
WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on R&D Financing holds open briefing on 18 November 2011 @ 5 PM in Salle C, WHO
In May 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) passed resolution WHA63.23 which established the Consultative Expert Working Group on research and development: financing and coordination (CEWG) to further “examine current financing and coordination of research and development, as well as proposals for new and innovative sources of funding to stimulate research and development related to Type II and Type III diseases and the specific research and development needs of developing countries in relation to Type I diseases, and open to consideration of proposals from Member States”. Continue Reading
Special 301 on steroids? Section 205 of HR 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) is not just about the Internet
On October 26, 2011, a bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives introduced HR 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act, known as SOPA. While much of the bill deals with “online” piracy,” some sections of the bill appear to have nothing to do with the Internet. The bill also creates a new bureaucracy to deal with very broadly defined trade related intellectual property rights issues, including those identified in the annual USTR Special 301 report.
Brazil’s intervention at Special Session of the Executive Board on WHO Reform
The following is the intervention delivered by Brazil on 1 November 2011 at the Special Session of the Executive Board on WHO Reform.
INTERVENCÃO DA EMBAIXADORA MARIA NAZARETH FARANI AZEVÊDO NA ABERTURA DA SESSÃO
ESPECIAL DO CONSELHO EXECUTIVO DA OMS SOBRE A REFORMA DA ORGANIZACÃOGenebra, 1º de novembro de 2011
Mr. Chairman,