The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is signed.

The Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property is one of the oldest and most significant international treaties concerning intellectual property rights. It was first adopted in 1883 in Paris, hence its name, and has since undergone several revisions and amendments. The primary aim of the convention is to foster international cooperation in the protection of intellectual property rights, particularly patents, trademarks, and industrial designs.

National Treatment: One of the fundamental principles of the convention is the concept of “national treatment.” This means that member countries must treat nationals of other member countries in the same way they treat their own nationals regarding the protection of intellectual property rights. In other words, foreign individuals or entities seeking protection for their intellectual property in a member country are entitled to the same rights and benefits as the country’s own citizens or entities.

Right of Priority: The convention introduced the concept of the “right of priority.” This provision allows an applicant who has filed for a patent, trademark, or industrial design in one member country to subsequently file an application for the same intellectual property in another member country within a specified period (usually 12 months for patents and utility models, and 6 months for industrial designs and trademarks) and still claim the earlier filing date as the effective filing date. This ensures that the applicant retains the priority date for their intellectual property rights across multiple jurisdictions.

Minimum Standards of Protection: The Paris Convention sets forth minimum standards of protection for intellectual property rights that member countries must adhere to. However, it does not harmonize the substantive laws of member countries; rather, it establishes a framework for cooperation and mutual recognition of intellectual property rights.

Administrative Provisions: The convention also includes administrative provisions related to the registration and enforcement of intellectual property rights, as well as mechanisms for dispute resolution between member countries.

Revisions and Amendments: Over the years, the Paris Convention has undergone several revisions and amendments to adapt to evolving trends in intellectual property law and to address emerging challenges. These revisions have expanded the scope of protection and introduced new provisions to enhance international cooperation.

The Paris Convention has played a crucial role in facilitating the global exchange of ideas, innovations, and creative works by providing a framework for the protection of intellectual property rights across national borders. It serves as the foundation for many subsequent international agreements and treaties relating to intellectual property, including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin is published.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe and first published in 1852. It is a groundbreaking work of fiction that played a significant role in the abolitionist movement and is considered one of the most influential books in American history.

The novel tells the story of Uncle Tom, a slave who is sold away from his family and transported from Kentucky to Louisiana. It also follows the stories of several other slaves, including Eliza, who escapes with her young son across the frozen Ohio River, and Tom’s fellow slave, George Harris, who also escapes to Canada with his family.

Uncle Tom’s Cabin vividly portrays the brutality of slavery and the dehumanizing effects it had on both slaves and slave owners. The novel exposes the inhumanity of the institution of slavery and the many ways it corrupted the souls of those who participated in it.

The book was an instant success, selling over 300,000 copies in its first year and going on to become the best-selling novel of the 19th century. It was widely read in the North and helped to fuel the growing abolitionist movement, while also serving as a rallying cry for opponents of slavery in the South.

However, the book also sparked controversy and outrage among pro-slavery advocates, who saw it as a direct attack on their way of life. They criticized Stowe for what they saw as an unfair portrayal of the South and the institution of slavery.

Despite the controversy, Uncle Tom’s Cabin remains an important work of American literature that helped to shape public opinion on one of the most divisive issues of its time. Its impact can still be felt today, and it continues to be studied and celebrated for its powerful message of justice and humanity.

The USS Langley is commissioned as the first United States Navy aircraft carrier.

The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT.

Albert Einstein publishes his general theory of relativity.

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The FDA approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT.

On March 20, 1987, the HIV/AIDS community received news that a powerful breakthrough in HIV treatment had been achieved. On that day, the Food and Drug Administration approved zidovudine, the most effective drug to date for combating HIV/AIDS and the first anti-HIV drug approved for use in the United States.

Soon thereafter, HRSA launched its AZT Drug Reimbursement Program. This program brought life-prolonging treatment to people who lacked the financial or insurance resources to acquire AZT on their own.

AZT Drug Reimbursement Program grants were awarded via letters to the governors in all 50 States, “It had the least amount of paperwork associated with it of any grant I’ve ever seen in my life,” says Director of the HAB Division of Training and Technical Assistance, Steven Young. “All we had to do was sign a letter of commitment and that was it!” Young was at the New Jersey State Department of Health, Division of AIDS Prevention and Control when the AZT program was launched.

Award levels were based on the percentage of U.S. AIDS patients living in the State. Five hard-hit States—New York, California, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey—received 71 percent of the funds, or about $21.1 million.

HRSA’s AZT Drug Reimbursement Program laid the foundation for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program authorized under the CARE Act of 1990. ADAP was designed to pay for HIV treatments for low-income, underserved people living with HIV/AIDS, and it reflected HRSA’s effort to help the medical community offset the cost of treating PLWHA. Today, some 20 years later, ADAP is the biggest budget initiative in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

The Food and Drug Administration approves the anti-AIDS drug, AZT.

On March 20, 1987, the HIV/AIDS community received news that a powerful breakthrough in HIV treatment had been achieved. On that day, the Food and Drug Administration approved zidovudine, the most effective drug to date for combating HIV/AIDS and the first anti-HIV drug approved for use in the United States.

Soon thereafter, HRSA launched its AZT Drug Reimbursement Program. This program brought life-prolonging treatment to people who lacked the financial or insurance resources to acquire AZT on their own.

AZT Drug Reimbursement Program grants were awarded via letters to the governors in all 50 States, “It had the least amount of paperwork associated with it of any grant I’ve ever seen in my life,” says Director of the HAB Division of Training and Technical Assistance, Steven Young. “All we had to do was sign a letter of commitment and that was it!” Young was at the New Jersey State Department of Health, Division of AIDS Prevention and Control when the AZT program was launched.

Award levels were based on the percentage of U.S. AIDS patients living in the State. Five hard-hit States—New York, California, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey—received 71 percent of the funds, or about $21.1 million.

HRSA’s AZT Drug Reimbursement Program laid the foundation for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program authorized under the CARE Act of 1990. ADAP was designed to pay for HIV treatments for low-income, underserved people living with HIV/AIDS, and it reflected HRSA’s effort to help the medical community offset the cost of treating PLWHA. Today, some 20 years later, ADAP is the biggest budget initiative in the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

The general theory of relativity is first published by Albert Einstein.

Imelda Marcos (wife of Ferdinand Marcos), goes on trial for bribery, embezzlement as well as racketeering.