Sisule F. Musungu - The 126th session of the Executive Board (EB) of the World Health Organization (WHO) meets in Geneva from Today (Monday, 18th January 2010) to Friday with a packed agenda. This meeting comes in the wake of increasing questions regarding the management and governance of the world health body which for far too long has escaped serious public scrutiny by hiding behind the perception that it is a technical body whose work ordinary mortals can not understand.
Commentary on the WIPO-SCCR Information Meeting on Limitations and Exceptions for Educational Activities
Susan Isiko Štrba - The Nineteenth Session of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) opened with an information meeting on limitations and exceptions (L&Es) to copyright and related rights for educational activities. Four experts presented their studies on: a) L&Es for education in Latin America and the Caribbean (Juan Carlos Monroy), b) L&Es for teaching in Africa (Joseph Fometeu), c) L&Es for educational purposes in the Arab countries (Victor Nabhan), and d) L&Es for educational activities in North America, Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia and Israel (Raquel Xalabarder). The study on L&Es for educational activities for Asia and Australia was not presented.
The U.S.A Stands up to be Counted on Improving Access for Visually Impaired Persons
Sisule F. Musungu - A key item at the on-going ninetenth Session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) is a discussion on a proposed treaty for improving access for the blind, visually impaired and other reading disabled persons (hereinafter “TVI”). Naturally, the proposal by the World Blind Union, formally presented to SCCR by Brazil, Ecuador and Paraguay, has generated not only intense interest but also significant opposition from predictable quaters such as the US Chamber of Commerce. As a corollary, it has been believed that the United States government will oppose such a proposal. The statement of the United States at the SCCR on TVI, however, is a worth a read, because, as a student of international intellectual property (IP) policy-making I can argue that it will mark an important historical moment in the politics of intellectual property. It was not only an enlightened statement but a statement that demonstrated a level of leadership that needs to acknowledged.
Commentary on the WIPO Study on limitations and exceptions to copyright and related rights for the benefit of teaching in Africa
Susan Isiko Štrba - The study on limitations and exceptions (L&E) for copyright and related rights for teaching in Africa to be discussed at the nineteenth Session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) which will take place from 14 to 18 December 2009, is a valuable contribution as it summarizes the status of limitations and exceptions (L&E) for the benefit of teaching in over 30 African countries south of the Sahara. However, by focusing on teaching instead of educational activities and excluding L&E for research or private study jeopardizes the purpose of the study.
Arab Knowledge Report 2009: Towards Productive Intercommunication for Knowledge
Nagla Rizk - On 28 to 29 October 2009 I was in Dubai for the launch of the Arab Knowledge Report 2009 of which I am co-author. The report was originally written in Arabic, and was translated to English, released under the title: Arab Knowledge Report 2009: Towards Productive Intercommunication for Knowledge. The Report is published by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. The Report authors are: Kamal Abdul Latif, Mouin Hamza, Nagla Rizk, Omar Bizri, Ramzi Salama, and the Report Coordinator is Ghaith Fariz.
