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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]