IP Issues May Go To ‘Higher Political Level’ In Copenhagen Amid Difficulties 09/12/2009 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments COPENHAGEN – While intellectual property rights has been ‘the elephant in the room’ in the climate change negotiations so far, officials predict that it could become the subject of heated negotiations – even at a higher political level – during the ongoing high-level meeting in Copenhagen. On the third day of the meeting, IP issues had already appeared in a proposed negotiation text.
Mismatch On Traditional Knowledge Treaty Text, Negotiating Sessions At WIPO 08/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Folklore (IGC) at the World Intellectual Property Organization began its first meeting under a newly-minted mandate yesterday, though it seems matters of procedure may again take up much of the space for discussions, according to several delegates.
Future Of Biotechnology And IP: Research Exemptions, Ceilings, Trade Secrets 07/12/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Patenting of biotechnologies is a growing trend and is increasingly raising questions about legal and ethical implications and a lack of harmonisation, according to speakers at a recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) symposium.
WTO Ends Ministerial With No Agreements, Modest Treatment Of IP 02/12/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Trade Organization today wrapped up its first ministerial meeting in four years with no decisions or breakthroughs (as expected) but an informal agreement to consider by March whether members can complete the longstanding round of negotiations in 2010. Meanwhile, intellectual property issues played a tangential role in ministers’ discussions, but made several notable appearances.
UN Eyes Next Steps On Food Security; Biotech Pleased With Summit Mention 26/11/2009 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The United Nations food agency is working to strengthen a global food security committee following last week’s World Food Summit in Rome, but key observers deplored the lack of firm commitments at the gathering, while industry welcomed the mention of biotechnology in the summit declaration.
Biodiversity Negotiations Need To Allow For Flexibility In Business, Industry Says 25/11/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Aspects of a legally-binding international agreement on access and benefit-sharing under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity may harm business interests and also fail to reach its objectives of protecting and preserving biodiversity, said members of a panel of industry representatives in Geneva yesterday. Some also expressed doubt about the likelihood of the access and benefit sharing regime meeting its deadline of having full agreement by its October meeting next year in Nagoya, Japan.
UN Biodiversity Negotiators To Work From Single Text On Access, Benefits 24/11/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment For the first time in its history, a working group tasked with negotiating an international regime for access to genetic resources and the sharing of related benefits under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has agreed on a single negotiating text. But participants in the process say the text, while a comprehensive compilation of all divergent views on the regime, still has a way to go before becoming a consensus document.
WTO GI Register Draft Report Sees Areas Of Convergence 23/11/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The outgoing chair’s draft report on progress at the World Trade Organization toward establishing a mandated register for geographical indications praises recent work and sees hope for convergence on outstanding issues such as legal effects and participation, according to a copy obtained by Intellectual Property Watch. But it details key differences on the issues that remain.
TRIPS Council Annual Report: Extension Of Health Amendment Deadline Looms Again 18/11/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Trade Organization General Council, the WTO’s highest-level decision-making body in Geneva, on Tuesday received the annual report for the WTO committee on intellectual property rights. In it were descriptions of the past year’s IP debates and recommendations for extensions of deadlines.
Farmers’ Advocacy Groups Rejected As Observers In Plant Rights Organisation 10/11/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) has denied two farmers’ advocacy organisations observer status to its governing Council on grounds that they have not demonstrated expertise relevant to the intergovernmental body’s work, stirring concern that opposition groups are being denied participation. Meanwhile, the functional head of UPOV will step down this spring after a decade of leadership, with several candidates in the running for his replacement.