Policy Discussions and International Organizations
Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) deliver valuable guidance and analysis about innovation and IP policymaking to governments and other stakeholders. They also provide a forum for policymakers and other actors to discuss best practices and to set high-level political objectives and direction. Each IGO has a specific mandate and scope of work. The mission of the World Intellectual Property Organization “is to lead the development of a balanced and effective international IP system that enables innovation and creativity for the benefit of all”. Given its mission and extensive technical expertise, WIPO has a leading role to play in demystifying how IP and other policies can be framed to drive technological advancement and socio-economic development. Engagement with IP users helps keep WIPO and other IGOs connected to emerging issues and developments in the real economy. Innovation Council members engage with IGOs to share their firsthand experiences bringing technologies to people.
Seminar hosted by the Geneva Network about Availability of COVID Solutions
On 5 October 2022, the Geneva Network organized a panel about the possible future implications of expanding the scope of the TRIPS waiver, in particular in relation to innovation and availability of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines for health crises. Innovation Council’s Executive Director Jennifer Brant took part in this panel to share information about how bio-manufacturing infrastructure can be extended, and what policy actions governments can take to accelerate the process. She expressed the view that the June 2022 TRIPS waiver should be tested, and that evidence should be tabled as to the need to expand the waiver’s scope to cover additional categories of COVID health products, before WTO Members take further action.
Click here to watch the virtual meeting.
Geneva Network Analysis of the TRIPS Waiver
In the coming months WTO Members will continue to discuss whether to modify the TRIPS waiver that was agreed in June 2022 to include COVID therapeutics and diagnostics. Geneva Network has prepared a policy brief that explains why it could be counterproductive to expand the scope of the waiver in this way. The brief is authored by Philip Stevens of the Geneva Network and Prof. Mark Schultz, Director of the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Program at the University of Akron School of Law.
Why the United States urgently needs patent subject-matter eligibility reform
The law is in a state of disarray that has led to inconsistent case decisions, deep uncertainty in the innovative, investment and legal communities, and unpredictable outcomes in prosecution and litigation. David Kappos, Paul Michel, Corey Salsberg and Matthew Dowd argue that the United States’ legislators must act to ensure the country maintains its long-standing competitive edge in the global innovation race.
Click here to read the full story.
Compilation of WIPO Case Studies on IP Management by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
The WIPO Secretariat has compiled a selection of case studies and success stories obtained from various areas of WIPO, that showcase the use of IP rights by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). They provide a comprehensive overview on how IP is used by entrepreneurs, inventors and creators, to add value to their products, support business growth, create employment and promote economic development.
These stories will be presented from the 17th to the 22nd of October 2022 during the Twenty-Ninth Session of the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP).
USPTO becomes a partner in international green-technology platform, WIPO GREEN
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) became a technology partner to the global green-technology platform of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). WIPO GREEN is a public-private partnership established by WIPO in 2013. Its 145 international partners include major technology companies, intellectual property (IP) offices, business groups, research institutes, and nongovernmental organizations.
The USPTO’s contributions to WIPO GREEN include its own initiatives that are designed to address the challenge of climate change, including:
- The USPTO Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program, which accelerates the examination of patent applications involving innovations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- The soon-to-be-announced Patents for Humanity: Clean Energy Technologies awards competition, a green technology–focused version of the USPTO’s highly successful Patents for Humanity awards competition
Click here to read more.
Making Biologics: Strategies and Policies for Enhancing Capacity
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the cost of underinvesting in resilient systems for the development, production, and distribution of health technologies is too high.
This paper introduces biologics, describes opportunities in the sector, and provides insights about the processes for manufacturing them. It also identifies the diverse pathways that countries have used in recent years to develop bio-manufacturing capacity. Finally, it looks to the future to identify the government policies and technology solutions that will enable more countries to join global value chains and to produce these life-saving treatments more safely, quickly, and cost-effectively – to the benefit of patients everywhere.
Click here for the full story.
Spotlight on: Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs) in Europe
Supplementary protection certificates aim to offset the loss of patent protection for pharmaceutical and plant protection products that occurs due to the compulsory lengthy testing and clinical trials these products require before obtaining regulatory marketing approval.
We’ve put together a compilation of key background information on SPCs and the relevant legal regime.
Click here for more information.
Global Health – New EU Strategy
A new EU Global Health Strategy (GHS) to be developed this year has been developed to ensure that the EU remains an effective and progressive global health player, delivering on its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and continuing its commitment to promote healthy lives and well-being for all.
There are various opportunities to contribute to EU law-making as it evolves – from the preparation phase through to proposals for new laws and evaluations of how existing EU laws are performing. The Commission has invited stakeholders to share their views and ideas about the Global Health Strategy on the Have Your Say portal.
You can learn more by watching the Global Health Policy Forum which allowed for interventions from stakeholders on how to develop the EU Global Health Strategy, or you can click here for more information.
WTO Updates Joint Indicative List of Critical COVID-19 Vaccine Inputs
The WTO Secretariat has updated the joint indicative list compiling information on critical inputs for the manufacturing, distributing and administering of COVID-19 vaccines. The revised version incorporates feedback from industry and includes information on new critical inputs that have been identified.
The “Joint Indicative List of Critical COVID-19 Vaccine Inputs for Consultation” can be found here.