Compulsory License for Anti-Cancer Drugs in India
[Update from Campaign for Affordable Trastuzumab] The Campaign for Affordable Trastuzumab welcomes the news that the Government of India has started the process of issuing compulsory licences for the manufacture of biosimilars of three cancer drugs – Trastuzumab, Dasatinib and Ixabepilone. This move will come as a huge relief to the thousands of women with HER2+ breast cancer whose lives can be saved by Trastuzumab, but who are unable to access this drug because of predatory pricing by Roche, which currently controls the drug. Click here for more.
U.S.-EU High Level Working Group (HLWG) on Jobs and Growth to Propose Trade Agreement
The U.S.-EU High Level Working Group (HLWG) on Jobs and Growth, co-chaired by EC Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk, will likely release a report proposing the negotiation of a “comprehensive and ambitious free trade agreement (FTA)” by the end of the month. In June 2012, the HLWG produced an interim report that discussed the possibility of a trade agreement, but said that “both sides agree that it would not be feasible in negotiations to seek to reconcile across the board differences in the IPR obligations that each typically includes in its comprehensive trade agreements.” Since then, it has received industry comments recommending the inclusion of IPRs in the trade agreement. Click here for more.
CC Licensing Underpins Queensland’s Open Data Revolution
[Cheryl Foong, Creative Commons Australia site, CC-BY] The Queensland Government has implemented its ’open data revolution’ by launching the Queensland Government Data website – data.qld.gov.au. The initiative was first announced by Premier Campbell Newman in a press release ‘Queensland Government’s ‘open data’ revolution begins‘ in October 2012… Further details have been provided in the Premier’s message published on the Queensland Government Data website in January 2013. The Premier’s message outlines the rationale behind Queensland’s ‘open data revolution’, explains the meaning of open data, and lists a timetable for delivery of outcomes. In defining open data, Premier Newman states that agencies must provide open data in a standard way, so that it can be used by Queenslanders effectively. Importantly, agencies are to “apply clear licences (preferably open licences such as Creative Commons)”. Click here for more.
Research Finds Censoring Pirate Sites Doesn’t Work
[Originally posted by Ernesto on TorrentFreak, CC-BY-NC] A new study released by researchers from Boston’s Northeastern University shows that censoring “pirate” sites by blocking or seizing their domains is ineffective. The researchers looked at the availability of various pirated media on file-hosting sites and found that uploaders post more new content than copyright holders can take down. A better solution, according to the researchers, is to block the money streams that flow to these sites. Click here for more.
