The Economist: Patently Absurd

The Economist recently published an interesting opinion article on the impact of innovation on the economy — specifically the negative impact of patent backlogs on business (particularly small entrepreneurial business). Patently Absurd INNOVATION and jobs have become a modern version of motherhood and apple pie in Washington, DC. Everyone in America’s capital wants lots more [...]

WIPO marks 2 millionth international patent filing

The World Intellectual Property Organization recently marked the filing of the two-millionth international patent application under WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The PCT makes it easier for companies and inventors to seek patent rights in multiple countries as a single application under the PCT has legal effect in all 142 countries bound by the treaty. [...]

India’s PM wants country to be world leader in IP

According to an article in the Economic Times, India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently made a forceful plea for fostering an environment that promoted scientific advancement in the country to help it become a “world leader” in creating intellectual property. “Innovation and knowledge will be the key-factors in our progress in the 21st century,” said the [...]

Access to medicines in India: feedback from a gov’t consultation on compulsory licensing

India’s Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion (managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) recently released a Discussion Paper on Compulsory Licensing and invited feedback from civil society groups, industry, academia and other stakeholders to guide their formulation of a compulsory licensing policy. The Discussion Paper expressed concern regarding the availability of new products [...]

New study highlights the importance of partnerships in improving public health.

The Cameron Institute – a Canadian not-for-profit public policy think-tank – released a report highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships and of intellectual property protections to improving global health.  The evidence in this report (Pharmaceutical Access in Least Developed Countries: on-the-ground barriers and industry successes) strongly supports North-South, public-private partnerships as the preferred means by [...]

WSJ opinion – Africa’s Health Crisis

An interesting opinion from the Wall Street Journal about challenges and barriers to improving public health in Africa. How to Worsen Africa’s Health Crisis: Killing off drug patents will kill off innovation and patients. By ALEC VAN GELDER Faced with Africa’s devastation by HIV/AIDS, people are looking for scapegoats. Global pressure groups and now the [...]

US releases IP enforcement strategy

Today, Vice President Joe Biden and Victoria Espinel, Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, released the U.S. government’s official IP enforcement strategy.  The plan — developed following extensive public consultation — identifies 33 key action items to combat intellectual property infringement, both domestically and internationally. Download the PDF to read the complete 2010 Joint Strategic Plan on [...]

Why innovation is sometimes just as important as invention for pharmaceutical patents

An interesting article on incremental innovation, invention, access to medicines and IP — from Global Health Progress. The Asian Age recently discussed the dilemma around the language of the Indian Patents Act, which requires “significant” improvements or efficacy in existing medicines for them to become eligible for pharmaceutical patents.  Reporter Deepak Joshi discusses the role [...]

63rd WHA – update on discussions

The sixty-third World Health Assembly is coming to a close later today.  Some of the key issues raised at this year’s meeting included progress towards the Millenium Development Goals, counterfeit medicines, prevention of non-communicable diseases and the Global Strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property.  The following is a brief overview from these discussions. [...]

Innovation, IP & India – commentary from the Indian pharmaceutical industry

Small innovations that build on existing knowledge are the true backbone and a specific strength of the pharma industry.