Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Hong Kong–China’s recent decision to implement World Trade Organization rules making it easier for poor countries to import cheaper medicines was discussed at a non-governmental organisation meeting at the Hong Kong ministerial today, as questions swirled around the recent decision…
Hong Kong — The sixth World Trade Organization ministerial officially opened in Hong Kong today and although intellectual property issues have not surfaced on the formal agenda so far, they were discussed in some of the many side events taking…
WHO Paper Examines TRIPS Flexibilities The final version of a study entitled “The use of flexibilities in TRIPS by developing countries: can they promote access to medicines?” is now available online at: The study was conducted by Sisule Musungu…
By Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Washington, DC-In a bilateral free-trade agreement struck this week with Peru, the United States for the first time agreed to language relating to traditional knowledge, according to a Peruvian government source. The language,…
By Martin Vaughan for Intellectual Property Watch Washington, DC–An agreement by Peru to accept United States demands on protecting intellectual property rights, including protections for pharmaceutical test data found in other US free trade agreements, paved the way for a…
The new draft declaration for the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Hong Kong next week has been updated to reflect the 6 December decision to amend international intellectual property trade law for public health reasons. WTO members amended the…
An amendment to a World Trade Organization agreement for public health purposes was harshly criticised by non-governmental organisations and greeted with caution by the pharmaceutical industry. NGOs said the access-to-medicines deal that was reached by WTO members on 6 December…
The World Trade Organization today adopted a permanent amendment to international trade law that will make it easier for poor countries exposed to health emergencies to import cheaper generic versions of patented medicines if they are not able to produce…
As negotiators at the World Trade Organization gather Tuesday to try to agree on a waiver to intellectual property trade rules for public health purposes, an increasing number of non-negotiators are telling them to wait out of concern for the…
African countries seem to back a World Trade Organization proposal that would permanently incorporate into international trade law a waiver that has been in place since 2003 to help poor countries import cheaper medicines, but which for various reasons has…
After years of consultations over a draft provision aimed at making it legal for smaller economies to import cheaper generics under international trade laws, a solution may be reached in the rush before the 13-18 December World Trade Organization ministerial…
A note to our readers: The December/January edition of Intellectual Property Watch’s Monthly Reporter is available on our website. The monthly publication, available online and in hard copy every month, features an updated compilation of top stories appearing on the…