TRIPS Health Amendment Evokes Harsh NGO Reaction, Industry Caution 07/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An amendment to a World Trade Organization agreement for public health purposes was harshly criticised by non-governmental organisations and greeted with caution by the pharmaceutical industry. NGOs said the access-to-medicines deal that was reached by WTO members on 6 December was hastily agreed and would make permanent a flawed agreement. It would make “access to […]
US, Andean Nations Narrow Differences On IP In Trade Talks 02/12/2005 by Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Andean countries in late November narrowed differences with the United States over intellectual property protections in negotiations over a US-Andean bilateral free trade agreement, but divisions over market access for agriculture have likely delayed a final agreement until next year, at least for Colombia and Ecuador. Peruvian and […]
Webcasting Prominent In WIPO Broadcasting Talks Despite Few Supporters 28/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Member governments of the World Intellectual Property Organisation last week spent significant time discussing a proposal to include the delivery of broadcasts over the Internet in a treaty updating the rights of broadcasters. But the proposal appears to have almost no supporters among the member governments. The proposal to include webcasting in a WIPO broadcasting […]
IP Experts Discuss Access To Pharmaceuticals In Developing Countries 27/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Bern, Switzerland – A day-long conference of experts on health issues demonstrated the range of views in the debate on how developing countries should best address their public health needs through international policies. Dominique Sprumont of the University of Neuchâtel institut de droit de la santé, said the global push to arrange access to Tamiflu […]
TRIPS Council To Resume Talks On 29 November 25/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization next week will reconvene a suspended meeting on unresolved intellectual property issues that sources say have moved little in the final weeks before the 13-18 December ministerial in Hong Kong. The 29 November meeting will consider agenda items related to the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) […]
No Progress On GI Register As Issue Moves To Higher Level 24/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The chairman of the World Trade Organization group that has discussed the proposal for a geographical indications register for wines and spirits said in a draft report that there has been no progress in the talks, and asked ministers for guidance on the mandate in order to find a solution at the December WTO ministerial […]
Brazil Seeks Knowledge Access, Diversity In WIPO Broadcasting Treaty 18/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Brazil on 17 November proposed that the World Intellectual Property Organisation tie its draft treaty on broadcasters’ rights to a recently agreed treaty on cultural diversity that was seen as strengthening nations’ ability to control information flows across their borders. Meanwhile, a coalition of non-governmental organisations is preparing a statement recommending clarifications and limits on […]
WIPO Copyright Committee To Meet After Year-Long Hiatus 16/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The last time the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) copyright committee met it ended in acrimony, with still-bitter memories for some member governments who argued their objections to the outcome were wrongly ignored. But after a year and numerous regional consultations, many participants are looking ahead to an agenda laden with important policy items […]
US Industry Group Seeks To Shift Geneva IP Debate 15/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Citing a need to change the debate on intellectual property issues, another US trade association has added Geneva to its list of lobbying stops. The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) has expanded its presence in Europe in recent years mainly at the European Union level in Brussels. But now the group is turning its attention […]
Indian Industry Pushing for Compulsory Licenses for Tamiflu 25/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment While Swiss-based Roche, the rights holder to the most-favoured medicine for avian influenza, is pursuing sub-licenses, India is moving ahead with exploring the option of compulsory licensing. If this goes through, India would be able to export Tamiflu to developing countries and certain developed countries. The Indian Cabinet is considering issuing compulsory licenses to local […]