Professor Christal Sheppard just returned from participating in the 3rd Annual Global Congress on Intellectual Property and the Public Interest in Cape Town South Africa. The Congress was coordinated with the Conference on Innovation and Intellectual Property in Africa. Participants came from all corners of the globe providing localized insight on regional intellectual property concerns. Coincidentally the Congress & Conference coincided with the historic momentous occasion of the passing of the South African leader, Dr. Nelson Mandela, and the celebrations and memorial events that occurred throughout South Africa as a result.
The Congress and Conference explored the expansion of intellectual property rights in developing countries, the impact of these expansion, including requirements under TRIPs, on developing counties (with an emphasis on countries on the African continent) and mechanisms for developing countries to balance their international requirements when in conflict with the needs of their people. The five thematic tracks were : (1) user rights; (2) access to medicines; (3) enforcement; (4) openness; and (5) traditional knowledge.
Professor Sheppard noted that, in addition to the substantive experience of the Congress & Conference, being in South Africa during the recognition of the passing of Dr. Mandela was a life changing and life affirming experience. She saw first hand the love that people of all races and nationalities had for the former leader (Mandela, Mandiba, Utata) and the hope that South Africans had that Mandela's legacy would continue in South Africa. Follow this link learn more about the 3rd Annual Global Congress: http://www.openair.org.za/capetown2013.
Also read about Professor Sheppard's thoughts on recent patent legislation in a recent UNL Today article:
http://news.unl.edu/newsrooms/unltoday/article/sheppard-draft-of-new-patent-legislation-treats-symptoms-not-underlying/