Lamy Reports On TRIPS Consultations

Director General Pascal Lamy of the World Trade Organization reported today to member states on his most recent consultations on outstanding issues of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). He was speaking in his capacity as chairman of the high-level Trade Negotiations Committee.

His 8 October consultation addressed questions posed by members to each other on two key IP topics. One is a proposed amendment on protection of genetic resources, to bring TRIPS in line with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The other is the extension of high-level protections on product names associated with a place and characteristics to products other than wines and spirits (called geographical indication (GI) extension).

On the biodiversity issue, discussions focussed on what “misappropriation” of genetic resources means legally, and examined possible solutions other than requiring member states to disclose the origin of genetic resources used in patent applications as the proposed amendment suggests, Lamy said. On GI extension, members discussed the possible effects of extending higher protection, he added. There are still unanswered questions, and Lamy said the consultations will continue.