Peru Attempts Strong WTO Position On Disclosure Despite Weaker US Deal 17/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen and William New Hong Kong – Peru appears to be taking a strong position in World Trade Organization negotiations in favour of the disclosure of origin of genetic material and traditional knowledge in patent applications despite having agreed to weaker terms in a bilateral trade deal with the United States […]
CBD Issues Subject Of Tough Negotiations At WTO 16/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Hong Kong–Countries pushing for the launch of negotiations on the protection of biodiversity and traditional knowledge have been engaged in tough talks at the World Trade Organization ministerial in Hong Kong today. The countries, led by India and Brazil, are working to get language on the issue included in the text expected at the conclusion […]
Public Health Groups Sue US Government For Lack Of Consultation 15/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A United States law firm representing public health groups filed suit against the US government on 14 December for a failure to be consulted by industry-heavy government advisory groups on trade policy. The case was filed in US District Court in San Francisco by environmental law firm Earthjustice against the US government, including the Office […]
India, Brazil Tie Biodiversity Negotiations To Doha Development Package 15/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Hong Kong – At the World Trade Organization ministerial here, India has proposed the launch of negotiations on the disclosure of origin of material in patent applications, and says that if this issue is not addressed, there will be no development package in the outcome of the current round of trade talks at the WTO. […]
TRIPS Public Health Amendment Questioned; China Implements Decision 14/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Hong Kong–China’s recent decision to implement World Trade Organization rules making it easier for poor countries to import cheaper medicines was discussed at a non-governmental organisation meeting at the Hong Kong ministerial today, as questions swirled around the recent decision by WTO members to an amendment establishing these rules. On 29 November China issued an […]
Experts Debate IP Issues As Hong Kong WTO Ministerial Opens 13/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Hong Kong — The sixth World Trade Organization ministerial officially opened in Hong Kong today and although intellectual property issues have not surfaced on the formal agenda so far, they were discussed in some of the many side events taking place at the conference site. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its relationship with […]
US-Peru Deal Includes First-Ever Traditional Knowledge Provisions 09/12/2005 by Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Washington, DC-In a bilateral free-trade agreement struck this week with Peru, the United States for the first time agreed to language relating to traditional knowledge, according to a Peruvian government source. The language, which appears in a side letter to the overall agreement, apparently stresses the importance of […]
Peru’s Acceptance Of IP Terms Led To Trade Pact With US 09/12/2005 by Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Washington, DC–An agreement by Peru to accept United States demands on protecting intellectual property rights, including protections for pharmaceutical test data found in other US free trade agreements, paved the way for a final deal on a US-Peru free trade pact. US Trade Representative Rob Portman and Peruvian […]
Latest Hong Kong Ministerial Draft Reflects TRIPS Health Decision 08/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The new draft declaration for the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Hong Kong next week has been updated to reflect the 6 December decision to amend international intellectual property trade law for public health reasons. WTO members amended the 1994 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The amendment will make it […]
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 […]