WTO IP Discussion In Question With Possible Ministerial On Horizon 28/11/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Delegates are buckling down on key negotiating issues in the final days they have to decide whether or not there can be a high-level meeting of government ministers in December, and intellectual property-related issues appear still to be at an impasse with another IP meeting scheduled for Monday. While negotiations on agriculture […]
Push For TRIPS Changes Reaches Highest Level At WTO As Meetings Intensify 21/11/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Proponents of amending the World Trade Organization intellectual property agreement to increase protection for biodiversity and for geographically-specific products are insisting Director General Pascal Lamy himself lead the process for resolving the issues. Meetings on intellectual property issues have been held periodically throughout the week, including Friday, and will continue next week, […]
Protection des indications géographiques et biodiversité : la pression s’accentue 04/11/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Par Kaitlin Mara Les partisans d’une modification de l’Accord de l’OMC sur les droits de propriété intellectuelle ont clairement montré cette semaine qu’ils n’entendaient pas céder un pouce de terrain sur l’extension de la protection des indications géographiques et l’utilisation du système de brevet pour sauvegarder la biodiversité et les savoirs traditionnels. Parallèlement, les opposant […]
Persisten los esfuerzos por una enmienda sobre biodiversidad en el Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC; ampliación de las indicaciones geográficas 03/11/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Por Kaitlin Mara No han cesado los esfuerzos por enmendar el acuerdo de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) en materia de derechos de propiedad intelectual, tal como lo dejaron en claro esta semana los partidarios de una ampliación de la protección de las indicaciones geográficas y del uso del sistema de patentes para salvaguardar […]
Push Continues For TRIPS Biodiversity Amendment, Geographical Indications Extension 30/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara The push to amend the World Trade Organization agreement on intellectual property rights has not receded, as made clear this week by proponents of wider protection for geographical indications and using the patent system to safeguard biodiversity and traditional knowledge. But opponents remain steadfast. Meanwhile, the search is on for a new […]
New Arab Group Aims At Protecting Local Products With Geographical Origins 27/10/2008 by Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Wagdy Sawahel for Intellectual Property Watch In a bid to harness the significant value of geographical indications to the economies of the 22 member states of the Arab League, an Arab Society for Geographical Indications (ASGI) has been proposed. This was announced by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, president of the private-sector Arab Society for Intellectual Property […]
Panel: WTO Cross-Retaliation Could Bring Compliance But Political Pressure High 24/10/2008 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Catherine Saez Inducing compliance, after a favourable ruling of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body, from countries which breached international trade rules can prove difficult, especially for developing countries. For many of them, retaliation in a trade sector unrelated to the one affected by the violation of WTO rules may be the only viable option, although the major obstacles are not legal but political, according to speakers at a roundtable held on Friday in Geneva.
TRIPS May Evolve To Keep Pace With Modern IP Concerns 24/10/2008 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By Dugie Standeford and Kaitlin Mara The World Trade Organization Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS) is being “recalibrated” as developing and developed countries challenge old assumptions, Vanderbilt University law professor Daniel Gervais said this week. The first international accord to link intellectual property and trade has entered its third “narrative,” in which […]
Progress In WIPO Traditional Knowledge Committee Seen In Informal Sessions 16/10/2008 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Kaitlin Mara Movement is beginning to be seen at the World Intellectual Property Organization body tasked with discussing protection for traditional knowledge and folklore as informal meetings – and, in particular, bilateral meetings between the African Group and other regional groups – begin to bridge differences on modalities for future work. Plenary sessions were […]
WTO Members Call For More TRIPS Talks; Director Post May Open Up 14/10/2008 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment By William New Whether the World Trade Organization director general position will be up for grabs in the new year remains a question, as current DG Pascal Lamy is deciding by December whether to run for the post again. Meanwhile, numerous member governments on Tuesday called for any further trade negotiations at the WTO to […]