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 […]
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 […]
Nouvel examen sur l’application des droits de propriété intellectuelle en Chine dans le cadre de l’OMC 05/12/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen À la fin du mois d’octobre, les États-Unis, le Japon et la Suisse ont engagé des actions bilatérales dans le cadre de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) en vue d’examiner l’application des droits de propriété intellectuelle en Chine, malgré les objections de Pékin. Les trois États souhaitent obtenir davantage de […]
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 […]
China sometida a escrutinio en la OMC por su aplicación del régimen de PI 30/11/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Estados Unidos, Japón y Suiza tomaron medidas bilaterales en el ámbito de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) para examinar la aplicación de las normas de propiedad intelectual en China, pese a las objeciones de este país. Los tres países hicieron hincapié en la necesidad de mayor transparencia. En particular, hicieron referencia al párrafo 3 […]
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 […]