Abrupt End To Ministerial Leaves Questions On Future Of IP Issues At WTO 31/07/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments By William New The World Trade Organization Doha Round is over, and bitterly, at least for now, but negotiators left town with the general consensus that hard-earned work to date should not be lost and that there might be resumption of talks sometime in the future. The fate of intellectual property issues at the WTO […]
Collapse Of WTO Talks Washes Away Hope For TRIPS Changes 29/07/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments By William New Seven-year negotiations at the World Trade Organization collapsed today after an intensive nine-day ministerial snagged on an agricultural issue. And with the end of the Doha Round of trade negotiations for the foreseeable future go the hopes of some members of amending global trade rules on intellectual property to better prevent biopiracy […]
TRIPS Issues Still Possible At WTO, If Overall Talks Unlock 29/07/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New Intellectual property issues are progressing slowly and quietly on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization ministerial as prospects for an agreement on broader issues remain tense and uncertain, according to sources. Ways to proceed on IP issues continue to be contemplated, with a key focus on the relationship between IP talks […]
Prospects Dim For TRIPS Issues At WTO Ministerial; October Deadline Possible 27/07/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New The prospect for an agreement to negotiate on three intellectual property issues at the World Trade Organization has dimmed considerably, with no further meetings with delegations likely on Sunday, according to officials. A possible proposal is circulating to move the deadline on IP issues to October. “There is no possibility of a […]
Mandelson Keeps TRIPS Issues Critical As Lamy Hints At Need To Move On 26/07/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New The European Union on Saturday restated the necessity of including three intellectual property issues in any outcome of the World Trade Organization ministerial negotiations, even as the WTO director general signalled a need to prevent the IP issues from upsetting other achievements. “It would be politically very difficult for us if we […]
WTO Ministerial TRIPS Chair Floats ‘Elements’ As Main Issues Start To Move 25/07/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment [Update: Ministers reached a tentative deal Friday night on some aspects of agriculture and NAMA, and will take up services on Saturday, according to ministers.] By William New Word went out Friday evening that there may have been some progress on the main issues under negotiation at this week’s World Trade Organization ministerial in Geneva. […]
Chair: Compromise On TRIPS Issues Still Possible, If Broader WTO Talks Can Move 24/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara and William New Compromise on intellectual property issues at this week’s World Trade Organization ministerial meeting has been hard to find, but the facilitator of the IP talks said Thursday night that the possibility remains if the broader talks can proceed. Countries with a range of views met bilaterally with the chair […]
WTO Ministerial: TRIPS Issues May Be Tackled In Smaller Groups Seeking Compromises 23/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara and William New A meeting tentatively scheduled for late Wednesday evening to mediate differences of opinion on three intellectual property issues was postponed, at least until Thursday, when consultations may move into smaller groups, sources say. There have been several days of meetings and informal consultations in this week’s World Trade Organization […]
Norway Chairs As Europe Replies GIs A WTO ‘Must’; Others Gear Up Biodiversity Push 23/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara with William New Key stakeholder nations on intellectual property issues at this week’s World Trade Organization ministerial in Geneva are holding consultations with the Norwegian foreign minister facilitating to iron out positions before meeting later tonight with WTO Director General Pascal Lamy, according to government sources. [Note: The meeting, which would have […]
IP Rights Holders Frown On Proposed Changes To WTO TRIPS Agreement 23/07/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Some intellectual property rights holders and their representative governments are looking with concern at the drive to hold discussions on draft modalities for IP issues in this week’s World Trade Organization mini-ministerial. Letters sent early this week to the United States Trade Representative and European Union External Trade Commissioner by developed-nation industry […]