Independent External Audit Of WIPO Expected Soon 02/12/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An independent external audit of the finances of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) is expected to be issued in early December, according to government sources in Geneva. The audit, being conducted by Ernst and Young in Geneva, was undertaken soon after the early October WIPO General Assembly, the sources said. The report will be […]
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 […]
US Congressional Delegation In Geneva Focuses On Trade, Avian Flu 30/11/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the United States House of Representatives visited Geneva this week to learn more about ongoing trade negotiations and policy related to the possible avian influenza pandemic. The bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats met on 28 November with World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy as well as with officials at the World […]
Intellectual Property Issues Kept Off WSIS Agenda 30/11/2005 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch The issue of intellectual property did not make the headlines during the concluding session of the five-year-long UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis. And some critics are concerned it was intentional. Discussing the future of the information society without talking about intellectual property seems […]
LDCs Agree To Shorter Extension For TRIPS Implementation 29/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Least-developed members of the World Trade Organization on 29 November agreed to extend the transition period for implementing the WTO agreement on intellectual property rights by seven and a half years, a reduction by half of their original request. In addition, least developed countries agreed not to roll back on their commitments, and to individual […]
WTO Draft Ministerial Text Urges Progress On TRIPS Issues 28/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The new draft text for the upcoming World Trade Organization ministerial in Hong Kong urges negotiators to intensify discussions of issues related to the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. The 42-page draft is entitled the “Doha Work Programme,” reflecting the current round of WTO trade negotiations that began in Doha, Qatar, […]
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 […]