Biden Administration Supports IP Waiver To Help Fight COVID. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced this week the Biden Administration’s support for waiving IP protections for COVID-19 vaccines. Citing the goal of getting “as many safe and effective vaccines to as many people as fast as possible,” Tai’s announcement stated: “This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures.”
ReCreate Supports IP Waiver For Vaccines, Calls For Expansion To Include Copyright. In a statement commending the Biden Administration’s support for IP waivers for vaccines, Re:Create Executive Director Joshua Lamel urged the administration to support an expanded waiver that encompasses all IP barriers, including copyright. “But it’s important to remember that the WTO TRIPS Waiver should cover more than just vaccines – it should cover other important issues like access to research and medical equipment right-to-repair. We urge President Biden, U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai and other policymakers to clarify and expand their support to encompass a waiver for all IP barriers, including copyright, to prevent, contain and treat COVID-19,” Lamel stated.
Re:Create Members Laud IP Waiver For Vaccine. Several Re:Create members also issued statements of support for the Biden Administration’s IP waiver announcement. Public Knowledge’s Meredith Rose said the announcement “represents a balanced approach to public health” but also called for the administration to support expanded waivers. “As we have said elsewhere, allowing users and health care professionals to repair medical devices, and ensuring flexible access to relevant copyrighted works, is critical to preserving the continuity of work for hospitals, researchers, schools, libraries, and other key institutions as they adapt to the ongoing pandemic,” said Rose. Electronic Frontier Foundation pointed to its letter to COVID-19 Response Team Coordinator Jeffrey Zients calling for such action: “We urge you and all Biden administration officials to use maximally the executive branch’s existing powers to undo the power of intellectual property provisions in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Creators With Disabilities Use TikTok To Educate. With a lack of representation in Hollywood and the media, TikTok is serving as a way for individuals with disabilities to make a name for themselves and educate others. ABC News featured four creators with disabilities who are using the social media platform to combat the stereotypes surrounding them. As they tell their stories with pride on TikTok, these creators are changing norms and bringing a new type of attention and awareness to their communities.
Creators Are The Future Of Digital Monetization. Fast Company Executive Board Member Solomon Thimothy breaks down the new creator economy and argues that online creators are prioritizing their passions ahead of income: “The future of digital monetization is in the hands of passionate creators, or micro-entrepreneurs…By being closer to their patrons than major corporations, this group is able to leverage feedback faster and customize output to their customers’ wants and needs.”