Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Negotiations for the infusion of a stronger development mandate into the work of the World Intellectual Property Organization may have hit a wall today after key proponent governments called for an end to talks to protest unfair treatment of their…
As they head into the final scheduled meeting of the year on a proposed development-oriented reform of the World Intellectual Property Organization, member governments are looking for agreement on how to proceed – this week and in the future. Officials…
The World Intellectual Property Organization Coordination Committee this week welcomed new appointees to the highest policy echelons of WIPO, but some governments added calls for broader regional representation in the organisation. In addition, a question remains as to whether WIPO…
An intergovernmental working group on intellectual property rights mandated by the May World Health Assembly is expected to be set up “in the next few days,” according to World Health Organization sources. The WHA resolution adopted in May called for…
In a new European Union communication to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the ongoing agriculture negotiations, the EU has moved its call for higher intellectual property rights protection for product names deriving from geographical locations to the top of…
India, Brazil and other countries are calling for an amendment to the 1994 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) [WTO document WT] to help countries to better protect their biological resources and traditional knowledge…
Developing countries should use international law on plant breeding but not necessarily sign up to binding conventions as they could have a negative impact, argues a new World Bank-commissioned report presented at a joint event on 20 June at the…
Member governments of the World Intellectual Property Organization who act in a coordinating capacity for the UN body today indicated acceptance of the officials proposed by the WIPO director general to act as his cabinet for the next three years,…
While there was little movement at a World Trade Organization meeting (WTO) on intellectual property rules this week, one of the IP issues in the current round of trade talks has been elevated to a consultation of ambassador-level officials under…
The European Union got little support for its proposal to add further enforcement measures into international trade law on intellectual property at a World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting on 15 June, according to participants. This was the last day of…
Two new proposals on the relationship of international agreements on the protection of biodiversity were discussed at the World Trade Organization (WTO) yesterday, one of which supports a developing country view. But member states still disagree as to whether there…
World Trade Organization (WTO) discussion of a multilateral register for wines and spirits that derive their names from geographical locations seemed to hit a new low today as the chair ended a meeting after 15 minutes because of lack of…