Analysis at the intersection of intellectual
property law and the public interest.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda is moving forward with plans “to suspend certain concessions and other obligations relating to United States intellectual property rights” in retaliation for the US’s violation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services. The WTO has already found that the US violated the terms of […]
[Cross-posted with permission from the DisCo Blog, (Link)] This morning, the new USTR Michael Froman testified before the House Committee on Ways and Means about a variety of trade policy issues, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). In response to a question about access to medicine from Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Ambassador Froman emphasized the need […]
Press release from Sen. Leahy’s office WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) on Friday sent a letter to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) urging the agency to consider using its authority to ensure greater access to life-saving genetic testing that was developed with federal research dollars. Patents for the genetic test […]
[Daniel Nazer on the EFF’s Deeplinks Blog, Link (CC-BY)] Today EFF joins a coalition of 50 organizations to send a letter to Congress urging the legislature to focus on finding—and passing—effective solutions to patent abuse. This letter brings together a strikingly diverse group of companies—including retailers, application developers, and financial services institutions—as well as public […]
[Reposted with author’s permission from TWN Info] The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution on access to medicines despite opposition from the United States and the European Union. This was at the 23rd session of the Council held in Geneva on 27 May-14 June 2013. The resolution was sponsored by developing countries […]
[The following is an excerpt from a UK Intellectual Property Office request for comments on future harmonization of copyright in Europe. The full request for comments is available here.] The European Commission’s communication ‘A Single Market for Intellectual Property Rights’ outlines its plans for a number of initiatives on intellectual property (IP). The aim is […]