Knowledge Ecology International

KEI is interested in how regimes proposed in the IGC impact the economics of stewardship, curation and sharing of Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Genetic Resources (GR).

KEI generally opposes the creation of exclusive rights that can block innovations and access to knowledge and materials, in the context of Traditional Knowledge or Generic Resources.

However, benefit sharing does not require the granting of exclusive rights. Liability rule approaches seem to offer a better model.

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On Thursday, 6 October 2016, India delivered the following statement on behalf of the Asia Pacific Group in relation to the General Assembly’s deliberations on WIPO’s work on genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions.

Position Statement by India on behalf of Asia- Pacific Group on Agenda Item 16 – Report on the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC), delivered by Dr. Sumit Seth, First Secretary(Economic Affairs)

Thank you Mr. Chairman

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On Wednesday, 5 October 2016, Knowledge Ecology International delivered the following intervention on the agenda item concerning the Report of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR).

Agenda item 11: Report on the SCCR

244 words

Thank you Chair.

Congratulations to Sylvie Forbin, the highly qualified new DDG for the Copyright and Creative Industries Sector.

KEI welcomes the entry into force of the Marrakesh Treaty, and look forward to additional work at WPO to expand access to knowledge and knowledge based goods.

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On Monday, 3 October 2016, Bangladesh delivered the following opening statement on behalf of the LDC Group at the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) General Assembly.

General Statement on behalf of the LDC Group at the 56th Session of the Assemblies of the Member states of WIPO
[3 October 2016]
Delivered by Ambassador H.E. Mr. M Shameem Ahsan,
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations
( Suggested time: 5 minutes)

Mr. President,
Director General,
Distinguished representatives,
Good morning.

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On Monday, 3 October 2016, Chile delivered the following opening statement on behalf of the Group of Latin and the Caribbean Group (GRULAC) at the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) General Assembly.

In relation to copyright limitations and exceptions, GRULAC noted:

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USPTO has just published its new estimates of “IP-intensive” jobs for the US economy. The report is titled: Intellectual Property and the U.S. Economy: 2016 Update, and is available as a PDF file here. USPTO press release here:

I took a quick look at the report, and below are some initial bullet points:

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I wanted to post a brief note about three separate mechanism to overcome patent monopolies in current US law. All are useful, in the right context, and all have some limits.

1. The Bayh-Dole March-In rights under 35 U.S.C. 203, as defined by 35 U.S.C. 201(f).

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Knowledge Ecology International recently obtained extensive email correspondence between officials at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH), and the National Football League (NFL), which shed light on accusations of NFL attempts to control the NIH research agenda related to repeat concussion injuries in football players.

The records, which we received through FOIA, are available here:

• NFL Concussion Records – Part 1
• NFL Concussion Records – Part 2

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