Draft EU-Caribbean Agreement Shows Escalated IP Provisions 17/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New A new “non-paper” by the European Communities on the economic partnership agreement under negotiation with 15 Caribbean countries shows an elevation of intellectual property standards above global trade rules. The new draft text prepared for the next round of negotiations and obtained by Intellectual Property Watch, appears to show the European Commission nudging the 15 nations of the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM) to adopt standards that exceed the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The draft text of the intellectual property sections, available to IP-Watch Monthly Subscribers, contains suggestions for the adoption of provisions based on the European Union enforcement directive, which has been criticised by some as overly restrictive. The text also refers to a range of treaties negotiated at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that are not required by TRIPS, including the so-called 1996 WIPO “Internet treaties” on performers and producers, as well as copyrights on the Internet. The draft treaty also has additional provisions on copyrights, patents, trademarks and Internet domain name processes, and the extension of additional protection for geographical indications. These are product names derived from specific geographical regions. Caribbean countries have long had special trade treatment with Europe. Negotiations to alter the relationship through an Economic Partnership Agreement were launched in 2004. The sides are working under a deadline of mid-2007 to replace the Coutonou agreement which was found to be inconsistent with WTO rules. The countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific regions, which were collectively in an agreement with the European Union have been now separated by region. CARIFORUM members include: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. William New may be reached at wnew@ip-watch.ch.
Australia Eyes No-Fault Copyright Infringement Offences 17/11/2006 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch Australia is poised to become the first country to make copyright infringement a “no-fault” offence, a move aimed at broadening criminal penalties for infringement. The change is part of sweeping revisions intended to bring Australia’s Copyright Act 1968 into the digital age and compliance with the Australia-United States […]
Consultation On WHO IP Group Shows Polarised Debate; Challenge For Group 16/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Submissions to the World Health Organization (WHO) online public consultation on the intergovernmental working group on public health, innovation and intellectual property show that the debate is quite polarised, and that the group is therefore in for a challenge. Among the nearly 30 submissions posted to the WHO website within […]
Views Mixed On WTO Doha Declaration On Public Health After Five Years 16/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New A panel of key Geneva actors on policy related to intellectual property rights and public health on 14 November gave a range of views on the World Trade Organization Doha Declaration five years after its agreement. Several non-governmental groups and a developing country official saw some benefits but raised concerns about future […]
Consejo de la OMC sobre ADPIC: se enreda el tema de observancia, se examina biodiversidad 16/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen En la reunión de octubre del consejo de la Organización Mundial del Comercio encargado de los derechos de propiedad intelectual surgió un desacuerdo en cuanto a la manera de abordar la cuestión de la observancia. Según comentaron los participantes, el debate de la reunión del 25 y 26 de octubre […]
November Edition of IP-Watch Monthly Reporter Now Available 15/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The Intellectual Property Watch Monthly Reporter features the most important news on IP policymaking, the latest on who is coming and going in the IP community at the United Nations, World Trade Organization, Geneva missions, regional and national IP offices, industry and non-governmental organisations, plus News Briefs on reports and events that do not appear […]
A Call To Universities To Help Increase Global Medicines Access 15/11/2006 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Rodrigo Cerda In the intellectual environment of universities, we have long discussed the tragic loss of life that occurs daily because sick people around the world cannot afford the drugs that could cure them. Indeed, we have reason to be worried: ten million people each year die from diseases that are treatable with existing […]
Revelan la estrategia de los países desarrollados sobre armonización de patentes y políticas sobre la OMPI 14/11/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen y William New El informe del grupo de países desarrollados de la Organización Mundial de la Propiedad Intelectual (OMPI) sobre una reunión celebrada en septiembre revela la estrategia encubierta de ese grupo sobre armonización de patentes, el Programa de la OMPI para el Desarrollo propuesto y la gobernanza de la […]
2006 US Election Provides New Landscape For IP Reform 11/11/2006 by John T. Aquino for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By John T. Aquino for Intellectual Property Watch The 2006 elections in the United States have presented the world of intellectual property with a new set of guardians. In the 7 November congressional elections, Democrats took control of the House of Representatives and the Senate from the Republicans, who had been the majority party in […]
Sources: Internal Memo Suggests Shift In WHO Handling Of US Criticism 10/11/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen A World Health Organization (WHO) director has taken the unusual step of writing a memorandum directly to the head of the WHO, seeking clarity on the organisation’s handling of a United States complaint involving WHO staff, according to anonymous sources. The memo was prompted by concern that the organisation is […]