Experts: Intellectual Property Policy Not A Traditional Left-Right Political Issue 21/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BRUSSELS – Intellectual property policy may not be divided along left-right political party lines, participants in a consumer-led conference here on the politics and ideology of intellectual property concluded yesterday. On 20 March one of the debates on intellectual property and advocacy centred around software and patents. The two-day event is hosted by the Trans […]
A Philosophical Take On The Current Global IP Debate Meets Reality 20/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BRUSSELS – A debate on intellectual property and the “knowledge commons” started out with a review of rhetoric and ideology here today but soon got more heated as the discussion turned to examples from real life, such as the patentability of maize. The event is hosted by the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue, a forum of […]
WTO Negotiators Reopen Talks On GI Extension With No New Movement 16/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Key delegations on opposite sides of a proposal at the World Trade Organization to higher protection for geographical indication (GIs) beyond wines and spirits again listened to each other’s arguments today, but neither camp moved closer to compromise, according to participants. The informal consultations were chaired by WTO Deputy Director General Rufus Yerxa. A significant […]
WTO Discussions On Biodiversity Intensify As Differences Remain 16/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Intellectual property issues related to biodiversity were the topic of two different sessions at the World Trade Organization on 15 March with minimal progress, according to participants. But the second session, consultations with a senior WTO official, seemed to sharpen the focus of the debate, they said. During the morning, the formal Council of the […]
New Submissions Feed CBD Debate At TRIPS Council Meeting 15/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At the two-day meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) council responsible for intellectual property rights, discussions first focused on two new submissions on issues related to the UN Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). The relationship between the CBD and the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) was on the agenda of […]
Public Health And Patents Heat Up WIPO Debate On Harmonisation 08/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Discussions at an open forum last week on a possible harmonisation of international patent laws showed that countries do not only disagree on whether it would be useful or not but also have different expectations on what such a harmonisation would encompass. Judging from the at times sharp debate, the most contentious issue seems to […]
WIPO SPLT Forum Acknowledges Complexities Of Possible Harmonisation 08/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An open forum at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) explored the complexities of a possible worldwide harmonisation of patent rules in a mostly amicable environment. Work on harmonising the global patent system under a draft Substantive Patent Law Treaty (SPLT) started at WIPO in 2001 and the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents […]
Consultations On Geographical Indications Aim To Structure Discussions At WTO 27/02/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Informal consultations were held at the World Trade Organization on 24 February on how to structure negotiations over the coming months on a proposed register for geographical indications (GIs) on wines and spirits, a participant said. The register is scheduled to be discussed at a special session of the WTO Council on the Agreement on […]
Industry’s Take On WIPO Development Talks: An Interview With The Director General Of CropLife 24/02/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment On 22 February the biotechnology and crop industry association CropLife International hosted a side event as well as an evening reception to the ongoing discussions of a development agenda at World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Intellectual Property Watch talked with CropLife Director General Christian Verschueren about what the industry thinks of the development agenda negotiations. […]
Agricultural IP Issues Debated At Industry Side Event To WIPO Meeting 24/02/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The international crop and biotechnology industry’s concerns about current discussions on intellectual property as well as developing countries’ needs were discussed at a recent industry side event to the ongoing discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The event was hosted by the Brussels-based industry association CropLife International. On the panel were Rita Hayes, […]