WTO Strikes Agreement On TRIPS And Public Health On Eve Of Ministerial 06/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The World Trade Organization today adopted a permanent amendment to international trade law that will make it easier for poor countries exposed to health emergencies to import cheaper generic versions of patented medicines if they are not able to produce these themselves. The WTO General Council adopted the proposal immediately after a short meeting of […]
External Opposition Rises To TRIPS And Public Health Deal 06/12/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As negotiators at the World Trade Organization gather Tuesday to try to agree on a waiver to intellectual property trade rules for public health purposes, an increasing number of non-negotiators are telling them to wait out of concern for the negative impact of the waiver. At issue is a mandated amendment to the WTO Agreement […]
African Countries Ready To Accept TRIPS And Public Health Deal 06/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment African countries seem to back a World Trade Organization proposal that would permanently incorporate into international trade law a waiver that has been in place since 2003 to help poor countries import cheaper medicines, but which for various reasons has never been used. The proposal was discussed at a 5 December meeting where delegates said […]
TRIPS And Public Health Agreement Appears To Be In Sight 05/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After years of consultations over a draft provision aimed at making it legal for smaller economies to import cheaper generics under international trade laws, a solution may be reached in the rush before the 13-18 December World Trade Organization ministerial in Hong Kong. Over the weekend delegations met in informal sessions (meaning that the issue […]
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 […]
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, […]