KEI comments on MPP consultation regarding mandate to expand into HCV (and other diseases).

These were comments KEI provided to the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), for its consultation on expanding the mandate to include drugs to treat the hepatitis C virus.


To: consultation@medicinespatentpool.org.
Date: August 28, 2015
Re: Comments by James Love on behalf of KEI for the consultation regarding the MPP mandate to expand into HCV (and other diseases).

KEI has submitted joint comments with UAEM in this consultation. Here on behalf of KEI I make a few additional points.

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WIPO SCP 22: Written Statement of Knowledge Ecology International on Patents and Health

28 July 2015
WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP)
Written Statement of Knowledge Ecology International on Patents and Health

As the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is currently reported to be in the final stages of negotiation, it is both appropriate and urgent that this Committee is addressing the topic of patents and health.

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SCP22: India’s Intervention on inventive step (SCP/22/3)

TeamIndiaSCP22.jpg

India delivered this lengthy, nuanced intervention on inventive step on 28 July 2015 citing the US Supreme Court observations on a person skilled in the art (PSIA), the KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex, Inc. decision on obviousness as applied to patent claims, the IPAB Roche decision (in relation to inventive step) and jurisprudence from the House of Lords on inventive step.

India’s Intervention on a study on inventive step (SCP/22/3) at SCP/22

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Resource material on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)

What is the TTIP?

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in the words of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), “is an ambitious, comprehensive, and high-standard trade and investment agreement being negotiated between the United States and the European Union (EU)” launched in 2013. (Source: USTR TTIP website) In President Obama’s State of the Union Address on 12 February 2013, Obama announched the launch of the TTIP:

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EU Trade Commissioner Backs LDC Request for TRIPS Exemption for Pharmaceuticals Until Graduation from LDC Status

In a comprehensive, 2000 word speech to the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA) on Modernising Trade Policy – Effectiveness and Responsibility, European Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, cast a wide net in her speech covering in her words, 1) the “benefits of trade for all: our economy in general, consumers, entrepreneurs, SMEs and the poorest countries”, 2) “trade policy’s commitment to our values in the world, supporting our foreign policy, promoting the respect of human rights, soci Continue Reading

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KEI letter to HHS, regarding 3 issues in the TPP

Attached below is a letter KEI sent to Emily Bleimund, Senior Policy Advisor for International Trade for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and several other U.S. trade officials. The letter addresses three issues in the TPP text:

  1. There is a need for exceptions to exclusive rights in pharmaceutical and biologic drug test data.
  2. WTO standards for compulsory licenses should not be modified as part of a secret negotiation, or constrained by a 3-step test.
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Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) – GRULAC proposal – Revision of 1979 WIPO Model Law for Developing Countries

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Twenty-Second session of the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) will be convened from 27 July 2015 to 31 July 2015 in Geneva, Switzerland. For consideration of the Committee, the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) have submitted a proposal entitled, Revision of 1979 WIPO Model Law for Developing Countries on Inventions (SCP/22/5). Continue Reading

FOIA regarding General Electric’s lobbying of USTR to oppose WIPO Treaty for the Blind.

We just received a reply from a September 17, 2013 FOIA request KEI filed with USTR, asking for correspondence involving General Electric’s efforts to block the WIPO Treaty for the Blind. USTR provided 24 pages of documents, available here:

/wp-content/uploads/FOIA-GE-Treaty-for-Blind.pdf

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