Original news and analysis on international IP policy
The imbroglio which might cause a major impediment to the World Trade Organization's functioning is thickening as the United States continues to block the selection process to fill vacancies in the WTO Appellate Body, according to sources.
The World Health Organization mechanism to prepare the world for the next influenza pandemic is pondering its future and possible improvements. Among them are its extension to seasonal influenza, and the inclusion of genetic virus information along with biological samples to keep pace with technological developments. Member states and stakeholders (except the media) have been invited by the WHO to a consultation next month to discuss an analysis showing the potential beneficial or deleterious effects of the suggested changes to the system.
The escalating prices of medicines has become a growing global concern. Among many issues, intellectual property has been pointed to as providing monopolies that allow for unaffordable prices, in particular in developing countries. Though there is consensus among countries that IP is but one of the issues, the extent of the IP influence is not agreed. The use of compulsory licences as a way for developing countries to grant access to medicines to their populations was discussed during the World Trade Organization committee on intellectual property last week, with divergent opinions.
World Trade Organization committee members this week were asked to recommend to the upcoming ministerial conference whether to lift or indefinitely prolong a moratorium shielding intellectual property from complaints between members not involving a breach of a WTO agreement. Short of a consensus, the intellectual property committee will have to reconvene next month to try to find agreement. Separately, a two-year extension was granted to countries not yet having ratified the public health amendment to WTO IP rules.
The importance of intellectual property protection for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and the challenges they might encounter to ensure that protection was the focus of an event organised this week by a group of developed and middle-income countries at the World Trade Organization. According to the group, the event aimed at drawing connections between IP policies that are under discussion in the WTO IP committee.
Members of a 2008 World Trade Organization coalition are trying to rekindle a negotiation to provide the same level of protection granted to wines and spirits to other geographical indications, and to grant intellectual property protection to genetic resources and traditional knowledge. The discussion might not make it to the December WTO ministerial, but the group hopes to open a “fresh window” for discussion.
After an intense 10 days of negotiations, World Intellectual Property Organization delegates this week managed to close all items of the organisation's annual General Assemblies, with major decisions taken, such as the approval of the 2018/2019 budget, and a new mandate and work programme for the committee on the protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. However the inability to decide at the ambassador level which countries would host new WIPO field offices, and on the convening of a high-level negotiation to conclude a treaty on industrial designs, led to some teeth grinding.
A US cancer group has provided a series of recommendations to the South African government on ways to improve the country’s draft national intellectual property policy, including greater transparency, voluntary licensing, and the use of compulsory licences.
Late tonight on the last day of the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, delegates agreed on a mandate and a work programme of the committee seeking ways to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge, and folklore from misuse and misappropriation. Meanwhile, no agreement was found on the convening of a high-level negotiating meeting for a new treaty on industrial designs.
On the last day of the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, delegates today found a way to agree on the issues blocking the adoption of the 2018/2019 budget. In particular delegates found a way to address requests made by the United States on the program and budget, notably on the financing of the WIPO agreement protecting geographical indications.
A new draft emerged today, the last day of the negotiations, on renewal of the mandate of a World Intellectual Property Organization committee on protection of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
The intellectual property committee of the World Trade Organization is meeting next week with several notable items on the agenda, including some reviving earlier negotiations. Among topics for discussion on intellectual property and innovation is a focus on inclusive innovation and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Also, India also submitted a series of questions for the European Union about goods in transit, echoing an earlier WTO dispute. And separately, some countries are holding a workshop on geographical indications and traditional knowledge.