AIDS Activists Demand New Model for the HIV Response

[Lotti Rutter, Treatment Access Campaign]  In 2011, the UN and member states set a goal of reaching 15 million people on AIDS treatment by 2015—a goal many questioned but that will be met next year. Since then, evidence and tools available have changed and it is clear that simply tracking testing and treatment is not good enough.  Critically, it is now clear that suppressing the HIV virus with high-quality HIV drugs keeps people living with HIV alive and healthy while also preventing HIV transmission… Activists called on governments to: Use every tool available to eliminate patent barriers that make ARVs and other drugs unaffordable in many countries; Push hard for affordable viral load testing—no single viral load test anywhere in the world should cost more than 10 USD and further price reductions should be possible; Click here for more.

See also: MSF Press Release. High prices hinder access to newer HIV drugs and optimal tests that ensure treatment is working. Link.

Educational Resources Development: Mapping Copyright Exceptions and Limitations in Europe

[Alek Tarkowski, European Open Edu Policy Project] It is well known that the rules that allow for certain educational uses of copyrighted works under certain conditions without permission of the rights’ owners vary greatly between countries. But how different are those rules? And how difficult is to access those differences? Can a teacher with no legal background determine alone whether a certain use is allowed or not in his/her country? We are answering these questions in a new working paper titled „Educational Resources Development: Mapping Copyright Exceptions and Limitations in Europe”, prepared by Teresa Nobre (Legal Lead of Creative Commons Portugal). The study is an investigation of the fragmented European landscape of copyright exceptions and limitations for educational purposes, across 44 European states. Click here for more.

Medicines Patent Pool Signs A Record Seven New Sub-Licenses to Speed the Availability of Generic HIV Medicines to Developing Countries

[MPP Press Release] Three days before the start of the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia, the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced seven new sub-licensing agreements for the manufacture of generic HIV medicines, atazanavir (ATV) and dolutegravir (DTG). The United Nations-backed MPP negotiates licences with key patent holders to speed access of low-cost, generic medicines to developing countries. To date, the MPP has signed agreements with Bristol Myers-Squibb, Gilead Sciences, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, the US National Institutes of Health and ViiV Healthcare for eight antiretrovirals (ARVs) and one medicine for an HIV opportunistic infection. Click here for more.

Copyright Term Myths and Facts

[Krista Cox, Association of Research Libraries] The written testimony of four of the five witnesses speaking at the July 15, 2014 House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Moral Rights, Termination Rights, Resale Royalty and Copyright Term, address the issue of copyright term. Notably, none of these witnesses suggest that the current term be extended further and Professor of Law Michael Carroll argues that the current term of protection is too long. Although the other witnesses did not propose extension of copyright, it should be noted that Rick Carnes, President of the Songwriters Guild of America, asserts that the current copyright term in the United States is appropriate and should not be shortened. Although he devotes only a single paragraph to the issue of copyright term, his written testimony nonetheless contains statements that are misleading or untrue. Click here for more.

KEI Policy Brief: Non-Voluntary use of HCV patents in the United States

[James Love] Attached is policy briefing note that sets out possible mechanisms to overcome the exclusive rights of patents for drugs to treat the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), in the United States. Each approach involves leadership from different actors. Each has advantages and disadvantages, including legal and practical risks. Click here for the full Policy Brief.

Libraries and Archives Leave International Copyright Discussions Empty Handed After Countries Again Fail to Reach Agreement

[International Federation of Library Associations] Discussions regarding an international copyright instrument for libraries and archives again collapsed inconclusively at the 28th meeting of the Standing Committee on Copyright & Related Rights (SCCR) in Geneva, from Monday 30 June – Friday 4 July. In the early hours of Saturday 5 July, Member States finally “agreed to disagree” on any conclusions on copyright exceptions for libraries and archives, as well as a draft treaty for broadcasting. Click here for more.

9% of French Internet Subscribers Accused of Piracy

[Andy, TorrentFreak] French anti-piracy authority Hadopi has revealed that in the first four years of its operations it sent initial file-sharing warnings to 9% of French Internet subscribers. Just over 10% of those subscriber accounts went on to receive a second warning, with just 0.4% getting a third. Overall, 116 individuals went on to the court stage. Click here for more.

2014 International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference

[IIPCIC, Upcoming Enforcement Conference] This is a reminder to register for the 2014 International law Enforcement IP Crime Conference which will be co-hosted by INTERPOL and the Vietnam National Police in partnership with Underwriters Laboratories. The Conference will be held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam on 23-25 September 2014. This Conference is a unique forum where delegates have the opportunity to learn about and discuss operational best practices that can be utilized to combat transnational organized IP crime.  We anticipate some 500 delegates representing both the public and private sectors will attend from nearly 70 countries. Click here for the full announcement.