Agreement Reached On IP And Public Health Resolution At WHO 27/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A technical group at the World Health Assembly today agreed on a resolution that will increase the worldwide research and development focus on diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries. Brazil and Kenya, which have been driving the issue, welcomed the resolution, which is expected to be adopted tomorrow, 27 May. The text of the resolution […]
Health Assembly To Begin Talks On IP Resolutions Thursday Under Time Constraints 25/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen and William New A technical committee of the World Health Assembly on 24 May decided to wait until the next day to set up a short-term working group on two draft intellectual property resolutions, which put in question whether the assembly will run out of time on these issues before […]
India, Brazil, Peru Set To Propose TRIPS Amendment On Biodiversity 05/05/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A group of countries led by Brazil, India and Peru has indicated that it intends to present a text relating to the discussions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on biodiversity “in days, not weeks” suggesting an amendment to current trade law, sources say. Brazil, India and Peru confirmed that they informed the WTO Trade […]
Pfizer Fights IP Flexibilities In The Philippines 30/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The world’s largest pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, is suing the Philippine government for having imported and registered – but not marketed – a product that is still under patent. At the same time, industry is said to be lobbying against a bill under consideration in the Philippines that would introduce more flexibilities into the country’s intellectual […]
No Progress In WTO GI Extension Talks, Next Steps Unclear 13/04/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Officials holding consultations at the World Trade Organization today on whether geographical indication (GI) protection for wines and spirits should be extended to other products completed a list of questions on the issue, but made no progress on bridging differences. The next steps are now unclear as the overall WTO negotiations deadline of July is […]
WTO Geographical Indications, Biodiversity Talks Intensify, But No News For TNC 24/03/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Two days of World Trade Organization consultations this week on a proposal to extend high-level protection for geographical indications beyond wines and spirits did not bring resolution in time for the WTO Trade Negotiations Committee meeting on Tuesday, sources in Geneva said. The same is true for discussions on proposals relating to biodiversity and the […]
Experts: Intellectual Property Policy Not A Traditional Left-Right Political Issue 21/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BRUSSELS – Intellectual property policy may not be divided along left-right political party lines, participants in a consumer-led conference here on the politics and ideology of intellectual property concluded yesterday. On 20 March one of the debates on intellectual property and advocacy centred around software and patents. The two-day event is hosted by the Trans […]
A Philosophical Take On The Current Global IP Debate Meets Reality 20/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment BRUSSELS – A debate on intellectual property and the “knowledge commons” started out with a review of rhetoric and ideology here today but soon got more heated as the discussion turned to examples from real life, such as the patentability of maize. The event is hosted by the Trans Atlantic Consumer Dialogue, a forum of […]
EU Addresses Concerns Over GI Register As Rival Plan Gains Support 17/03/2006 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment By William New and Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen The European Union on Friday continued its fight at the World Trade Organization for a binding register of traded products that are protected because their names and character derive from places, often in Europe. But it may be headed for an eventual compromise as support appears to […]
WTO Negotiators Reopen Talks On GI Extension With No New Movement 16/03/2006 by Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Key delegations on opposite sides of a proposal at the World Trade Organization to higher protection for geographical indication (GIs) beyond wines and spirits again listened to each other’s arguments today, but neither camp moved closer to compromise, according to participants. The informal consultations were chaired by WTO Deputy Director General Rufus Yerxa. A significant […]