Some Sunshine from The Bangkok Post:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Perspective/27May2007_pers01.php

"USA for Innovation, an organisation which seems to exist only with a website, a telephone number, an employee named Maura (@usaforinnovation.org) who receives but does not respond to emails, and another former ambassador (to the United Nations in the early '80s), Ken Adelman, at its helm."

"Besides being the Executive Director of USA for Innovation, Adelman is based in Washington DC as a senior counselor with Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, a firm with drug company clients and a history (sometimes embarrassing - see www.walmartingacrossamerica.com) for creating front groups and making up organisations."

"Edelman-client and Kaletra-producing Abbott Laboratories spent $4.9 billion on marketing, as opposed to $1.7 billion on R&D in 2004, while Merck, the producer of Efavirenz, spent $7.35 billion for marketing and just $4.01 billion on R&D."

WHO backs use of compulsory licensing

The annual meeting of all 193 member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) ended yesterday in Geneva with a resolution to endorse the use of compulsory licensing to increase access to medicines.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/25/headlines/headlin es_30035155.php

As if a government is something totally different from the people -- a government is elected and moves in direction of the people's will, right?

Apparently many rich "kids" in the US think they're living in the only democracy in the world and that health issues are secondary to the economy. Of course they won't show this message in Thailand, it is disgusting and inhumane.

What do the misled people of the US think of their economic health care system?

Yeah, Bandito is right Cakewalk. Stop trying to reveal the true identity and motives of Adleman! Bandito, this is the downside to the internet. Unfortunately it is interactive and people can post their own comments. f only it could be controlled!

I don't believe you Adelman , many nations use compulsory license with the reason of public interest , espectially for human health and life.

of course corporations will try to protect their interests, that's understandable. the real criminal here is the thai government. anyone involved in the fight against AIDS in Thailand will tell you they receive little or no help from the government. if the government cared more about the problem and funded it properly, there would be fewer people needing these drugs. unfortunately, people just want to blame the big, bad drug companies. the really sad thing is that the thai government has stated that CL will save around $30 million/year (around 1 billion baht) on the AIDS drugs. for a country like Thailand, that is nothing, not even worth talking about it is so little.

let's start putting blame where it belongs and not just taking swaps at an easy target.

hey cakewalk,

put a cork in it you kook.

SECOND: The United States and the European Union have and are issuing compulsory licenses on patents for other medicines and less important technologies all the time. For recent examples of compulsory licenses, check: http://www.keionline.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=v iew&id=41&Itemid=1

THIRD: Adelman, who are you funded by? USA for Innovation is a hoax funded by pharma industry. I do not believe you even have a real office. Try to contact them: 1-866-646-8668, nobody is answering.

FIRST: Compulsory license is a totally legal mechanism included in the TRIPS Agreement and nearly all the national patent laws in the world.

In simple terms, Patents are a social contract, a government granted right which goal is to balance the interests of innovators and the public at large. A Compulsory licensing is a government authorization to produce a patented product or process without the consent of the patent owner, but the patent owner is still paid a reasonable royalty. It is basically a mechanism that promotes competition and lower prices, while respecting the innovators' rights.

I think you need some basic classes on patent and international law. Maybe this helps?
FAQ published by the World Trade Organization. Compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals and TRIPS: http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/public_health_fa q_e.htm

So the guy who tried to convince us that Iraq would be a cakewalk ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A1996-2002Feb12 ) now has another bright idea: lets threaten poor countries until they make medicines more expensive for people with fatal diseases!!

The WMD thing didn't work out so well, so maybe now we should invade to take away the ARVs - is that it?

In his day job with the huge PR firm Edelman, Adelman represents big pharma and the ousted ex prime minister of Thailand. But then, credibility isn't really his strong suit.