At WIPO, A Singular Explanation Of A ‘Non-Unitary’ Budget 08/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment At the World Intellectual Property Organization annual General Assembly this week, the financing of the Lisbon system protecting appellations of origin is the subject of intensive discussions cutting across several agendas. Attempts are being made by non-Lisbon members to separate the Lisbon system’s funding from other agreements, and in the course of the debate the broader WIPO budgetary system came under analysis.
Panels: WTO Could Play Crucial Role In Challenges Facing Global Digital Trade 08/10/2015 by Marianna Drake for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Two panel discussions held at the recent World Trade Organisation (WTO) Public Forum addressed the challenge of modernising global trade rules for the digital age and the role the WTO could play in this process.
New Book Launched At WTO: The Making Of The TRIPS Agreement 07/10/2015 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The 1994 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) has been a landmark pact in the IP world and beyond. Now on the 20th anniversary of its entry into force, former TRIPS negotiators and other experts have come out with a book recounting the remarkable set of circumstances and compromises that took place to bring this agreement into being.
At WTO, Governments, Health Advocates See Benefit From TRIPS; LDC Waiver Urged 07/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Access to medicines and innovations was the subject of a panel organised at the World Trade Organization Public Forum last week. After 20 years of the WTO intellectual property agreement, panellists looked at the impact of the agreement on access to medicines, and in particular the use of its flexibilities. In addition, a delegate of India detailed the legal-political aspects of an upcoming WTO decision on disputes for harmful actions that do not technically violate any WTO rules.
WIPO Members Urge Action On Range Of Treaties 06/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Intellectual Property Organization members called for swift adoption of new treaties at the outset of the organisation’s annual General Assemblies this week.
TPP Heads Into Ratification Game 06/10/2015 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Reactions to yesterday’s announcement that the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is in the books quickly turned to “what’s next?” with European Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem sending congratulations and expressing expectations that “with TPP done, we will be able to approach our TTIP negotiations with an even greater focus from both sides.” But considerable work remains for TPP to come into effect.
Countries Seek Ways To Restore Work On Traditional Knowledge Protection At WIPO 06/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The fate of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee dedicated to finding solutions to protect traditional knowledge, generic resources, and folklore is being actively discussed informally at the organisation’s general assembly.
Interview With KIPO’s New Commissioner, Choi Donggyou 05/10/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment It has been five months since Choi Donggyou assumed the role of KIPO Commissioner. During the 55th WIPO General Assemblies in Geneva this week, he took time to sit down with Intellectual Property Watch and in a mutually prepared Q&A gave his perspective on a wide array of issues, including the IP policies and projects he plans to focus on throughout his term, his intentions for maintaining close collaborative ties with WIPO, and his thoughts on last May’s IP5 Heads of Office meeting in Suzhou, China.
Pull Up Your Socks – The TPP Is Done 05/10/2015 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The odds for a final signature under the Trans-Pacific Partnership went up and down since negotiations of the regional trade agreement re-started in Atlanta last Wednesday. In the final hours, the delegations of the 12 Pacific-Rim countries fought hard over data exclusivity terms for biologic drugs and access to dairy. Now the deal, the first of a new generation of regional mega-agreements, is done and while opponents are concerned about the selling out of patients, workers and consumers rights, Perrin Beatty from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce recommends to the naysayers to “pull up your socks” and face competition.
WIPO Director Sees Tougher Times For Multilateral IP Treaties 05/10/2015 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Negotiations for new global policies on intellectual property has become more challenging due to a greater competition in innovation, knowledge asymmetries, and the push for bilateral and regional treaties, the head of the World Intellectual Property Organization said today.