KEI Comments on Patient Assistance Programs as referenced in the 2014 Special 301 Review Hearing

Among the comments that KEI filed today in the 2014 Special 301 Review process were comments regarding pharmaceutical companies’ donation and patient assistance programs. An oft-cited claim by pharmaceutical companies and those lobbying on their behalf is that donations and patient assistance programs fully provide for those that cannot afford the high priced medications offered by the companies. Continue Reading

KEI Comments on the IIPA oral and written submission to 2014 Special 301 regarding education and research

Manon Ress, Knowledge Ecology International, Comments on the IIPA oral and written submission to 2014 Special 301

March 7, 2014

Docket ID: USTR-2013-0040

In 2014, the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) submission for the Special 301 failed to propose constructive policies by the USTR regarding copyright, as regards to access to knowledge and copyright related issues, in the context of education or research.

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WTO TRIPS Council (February 2014) – EU intervention on the contribution of IP to facilitate the transfer of clean technologies

On Tuesday, 25 February 2014, the European Union delivered the following intervention at the WTO TRIPS Council on agenda item 11 (Contribution of Intellectual Property to Facilitate the Transfer of Environmentally Rational Technology) with a focus on the European Business and Technology Centre, India.

Intervention by the EU at the TRIPS Council of 25 February 2014
Agenda point 11 – Contribution of IP to facilitate the transfer of environmentally rational technology
European Business and Technology Centre, India

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WTO TRIPS Council (February 2014) – EU’s intervention on IP and Innovation: University Technology Partnerships

The European Union delivered the following intervention at the February 2014 WTO TRIPS Council on agenda item 12 (IP and Innovation: University Technology Partnerships). The United States of America tabled this standalone agenda item on University Technology Partnerships in the context of IP and Innovation.

TRIPS Council 25/26 February 2014
EU intervention on Agenda point 12
IP and Innovation – University technology partnerships

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WTO TRIPS Council (February 2014) – Ecuador’s interventions on the contribution of IP to facilitate the transfer of green tech

On Tuesday, 25 February 2014, Ecuador delivered the following two interventions at the WTO TRIPS Council on agenda item 11 (Contribution of Intellectual Property to Facilitate the Transfer of Environmentally Rational Technology). The antecedent to this discussion item is a paper that Ecuador circulated to the TRIPS Council in February 2013 (IP/C/W/585) on the relationship between intellectual property and the transfer of environmentally sound technology. It’s core ask was a Bali Ministerial Declaration on IP and environmentally sound technologies:

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WTO TRIPS Council (February 2014) – India’s intervention on Non-Violation and Situation Complaints

For non-trade specialists, a ‘non-violation complaint’ at the WTO effectively amounts to a complaint that a country has violated the spirit but not the letter of trade law. While countries can launch such disputes at the WTO for trade in goods and services, there is a moratorium on doing so over intellectual property rights. Continue Reading

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WTO TRIPS Council (February 2014) – India’s intervention on IP and Innovation: University Technology Partnerships

On Tuesday, 25 February 2014, India delivered the following intervention at the WTO TRIPS Council on agenda item 12 (IP and Innovation: University Technology Partnerships). The United States of America tabled this standalone agenda item on University Technology Partnerships in the context of IP and Innovation.

Agenda 12 : IP and Innovation: University Technology Partnerships

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2014, PhRMA discussion of Brazil

PhRMA’s submission (7 February 2014, USTR-2013-0040) to USTR’s 2014 Special 301 Review requested USTR to have “Brazil remain on the Priority Watch List for the 2014 Special 301 Report” expressing concerns over Brazilian patentability standards, regulatory data protection, patent term adjustment for mailbox patents and government price controls and taxation. Continue Reading