WTO Appellate Body Report On US-China Dispute 22/12/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization’s dispute-settling Appellate Body has issued its report on a complaint made by the United States against China on “Measures Affecting Trading Rights and Distribution Services for Certain Publications and Audiovisual Entertainment Products.” The case concerns measures in Chinese law which the US said restrict the ability of foreign companies to import […]
Panel Explores Use Of Geographical Indications For Development 21/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property related to geographically-specific products can be harnessed for development purposes, argued panellists at a recent event in Geneva. But there are specific challenges related to using such tools in the developing world that must also be addressed.
WTO Extends Deadline For Health IP Amendment Acceptance 21/12/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The General Council of the World Trade Organization on 17 December agreed to extend a deadline for accepting an amendment to the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement by two years. The amendment would make permanent a temporary “waiver” that is already in effect. The text of this waiver, agreed to 30 August […]
WIPO Draft On Visually Impaired Shows Breakthrough; A-V Treaty Negotiation Under Discussion 17/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Draft chair’s conclusions out today show the World Intellectual Property Organization is poised to make paradigm-shifting breakthroughs to expand access to reading materials for the visually impaired. WIPO members this week also are considering the possibility of high-level negotiations on a new treaty for the protection of audiovisual performances.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Meeting Stalls, But Begins To Breach ‘Trust Gap’ 14/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After an auspicious beginning on substantive issues, the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge committee stalled on matters of procedure at the end of its meeting last week. With no mandate, a committee working group will not meet in early 2010 as planned, and the full committee will move meet again sooner than scheduled to try to agree on process.
Counterfeit Medicines At WHO: Off Board’s Agenda, Still On Secretariat’s 11/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The issue of counterfeit and substandard medicines is again not on the agenda of the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting in January, though sources say member states are being consulted about the issue by the secretariat.
WHO Report On Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Now Available 11/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization secretariat has released its report to the executive board meeting on pandemic influenza preparedness. A framework for handling outbreaks of potentially pandemic influenza was approved in May this year, but outstanding – and critical – elements of the framework remained unfinished.
WIPO Traditional Knowledge Negotiators Dodging Roadblocks 10/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment How to handle work between meetings on creating a “legal instrument” caused a stalemate in informal negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization traditional knowledge committee this evening. Unable to reach agreement on the composition and activities of the group, delegates have put the negotiations on hold and will reconvene informally tomorrow (Friday) morning.
Oxford Task Force To Examine Global Knowledge Governance 10/12/2009 by Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Intellectual property rules are the predominant tool to manage knowledge ownership and diffusion, but the complexity of IP regimes at the bilateral, regional or multilateral levels as well as the strengthening of these rules is a source of tension between stakeholders, according to a newly launched task force at the Oxford University Global Economic Governance […]
Financement de la recherche-développement de médicaments contre les maladies oubliées : l’OMS s’apprête à publier ses recommandations 09/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Le groupe d’experts sur les financements innovants pour la recherche et le développement, réuni sous les auspices de l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS), a tenu sa troisième et dernière réunion du 30 novembre au 2 décembre. Le rapport de ce comité très secret devrait être communiqué aux Etats membres dans les semaines qui viennent, selon certaines sources.