WIPO General Assembly Halfway Point – Many Issues Left Open 08/10/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At mid-point of the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, numerous items are unresolved, and several facilitators are in charge of finding consensus on draft decisions, in particular on norm-setting issues and the budget of the UN organisation.
Plant Treaty Governing Body Examines Budget, Farmers Rights, Funding Strategy 08/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The governing body of the international plant treaty is holding its annual meeting this week with a number of issues to go through, in particular the adoption of the next biennium budget, and the funding strategy of the treaty.
“No Human Right To Patent Protection,” Says UN Rapporteur On Cultural Rights 08/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments In a new report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights examines the implications of patent policy for the right to science and culture. She gives a number of recommendations calling for countries to refrain from granting stringent patent protection, and respect their human right obligations.
Public Broadcasters Rally For TTIP To Respect UNESCO Cultural Diversity Treaty 08/10/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership should expressly include an international treaty on cultural diversity, public broadcasters and a coalition have said.
Decisions On WIPO Copyright, Trademark Committees Elusive, Consultations Ongoing 08/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization governing body started examining the work of its committees yesterday, with the hope of solving some issues that those committees were unable to solve during the year. This included the work programmes of the committees on copyright and on trademarks and geographical indications.
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.