Pandemic Fears Raise Questions About WTO Health Waiver Opt-Out 27/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As nations prepare for a possible avian flu pandemic, some observers are raising questions about a seemingly obscure footnote in international trade law under which dozens of governments have agreed not to import cheap generic drugs made for poor countries. The concern is that the provision could make it difficult for those developed countries to […]
US, Switzerland, Japan Launch New WTO Probe On China’s IP Enforcement 26/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States, Japan and Switzerland have taken bilateral actions through the World Trade Organization to probe China’s intellectual property rights enforcement, despite Chinese objections. The three nations are requesting more transparency based on Article 63.3 of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). During the 25 October TRIPS Council meeting, […]
No Agreement On Public Health At TRIPS Council 25/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Officials at the World Trade Organization committee responsible for intellectual property issues on Tuesday could not agree on how to permanently change trade law to permit poor countries in need to import drugs made elsewhere under compulsory license. The WTO Council on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is under mandate […]
Avian Flu Issues Could Arise At TRIPS Council Meeting 25/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Issues surrounding nations’ legal ability to obtain sufficient quantities of patented medicines to protect their people from the spread of avian influenza may be addressed at today’s meeting of the World Trade Organization committee responsible for intellectual property rights matters. The meeting of the WTO Committee on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property […]
Indian Industry Pushing for Compulsory Licenses for Tamiflu 25/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment While Swiss-based Roche, the rights holder to the most-favoured medicine for avian influenza, is pursuing sub-licenses, India is moving ahead with exploring the option of compulsory licensing. If this goes through, India would be able to export Tamiflu to developing countries and certain developed countries. The Indian Cabinet is considering issuing compulsory licenses to local […]
Official: In WTO Talks, US Pushes Russia To Restrictive TRIPS Standard 24/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Russia is negotiating for accession to the World Trade Organization at the same time it is talking with the United States bilaterally about exceeding the terms of the WTO agreement on intellectual property rights, and a senior Russian official said last week that the two have become intertwined. According to Russia’s lead negotiator on WTO […]
Roche Seeks Deals On Bird Flu Drug As Compulsory Licenses Loom 20/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Roche, the Swiss-based company with rights to a medicine believed to be the most effective in the event of an avian influenza pandemic, has expressed openness to discussing arrangements with companies or governments to produce more of its flu treatment known as Tamiflu. But sceptics argue that the offer, made on 18 October, is too […]
US ‘Pulls Out All Stops’ As UNESCO Backs Culture Treaty 17/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Paris—The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) today approved a treaty for the protection of cultural diversity despite an all-out drive by the United States to get governments to change their minds. “We really pulled out all the stops” in the past week to try to change the outcome of this treaty, a US […]
Business Leaders Cite IP Protection In Urging Progress In WTO Negotiations 17/10/2005 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment An ad hoc, high-level global business leaders’ group that was in Geneva last week to push World Trade Organization negotiators to move forward on free-trade talks highlighted the importance of intellectual property rights protection. But the group stopped short of calling for sanctions against countries they consider to be in violation of those rights. At […]
US, Japanese Calls For Cultural Treaty Change Meet With Resistance 17/10/2005 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment PARIS — Attempts by the United States and Japan to reopen negotiations on a UN draft treaty on cultural diversity today are meeting with firm resistance from developed and developing countries alike. While most nations’ ministers present at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s annual General Conference are not mentioning the United States by […]