Category Biodiversity/Genetic Resources/Biotech

WIPO Assembly Extends Talks On Traditional Knowledge, Design; Sets Policy For New Offices

Near dawn today, World Intellectual Property Organization members agreed to continue working in committee toward an international agreement or agreements on the protection of traditional knowledge, genetic resources and folklore, rescuing the committee for another two years. Members also agreed to hold a final treaty negotiation on a design law treaty in early 2017, but left differences on inclusion of disclosure of origin to later.

Catherine Saez, William New and Catherine Saez, William New
October 15, 2015
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Racing Against Time To Close On Difficult Issues At WIPO General Assembly

With hours to go before the end of the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, delegates are trying to find last resort solutions on a range of remaining issues. Keeping WIPO members busy are: the adoption of the budget and a new plan for financing the Lisbon appellations of origin treaty, fate of the WIPO committee on genetic resources and traditional knowledge, the work of the copyright committee, and whether to mandate the final negotiation of an industrial design treaty.

Catherine Saez
October 14, 2015
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WIPO Assembly Still Divided On Normative Work On Traditional Knowledge

Discussions on the future of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge and genetic resources are heating up as some developed countries seek to delay normative work for the next biennium and favour information sessions, and developing countries are eager to go back to discussion on actual treaty texts.

Catherine Saez
October 13, 2015
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A New Model For IP: Interview With Ecuador IP Office Director Hernán Núñez Rocha

Ecuador is preparing a new intellectual property policy that aims to better suit the country's strategic development. On the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, Hernán Núñez Rocha, head of the Ecuadorian IP office sat with Intellectual Property Watch to talk about the country's work on the IP policy and its use of IP as a tool for local development. He also explained Ecuador's position on the WIPO committee on traditional knowledge.

Catherine Saez
October 13, 2015
2 Comments

Plant Treaty Governing Body Examines Budget, Farmers Rights, Funding Strategy

The governing body of the international plant treaty is holding its annual meeting this week with a number of issues to go through, in particular the adoption of the next biennium budget, and the funding strategy of the treaty.

Catherine Saez
October 8, 2015

Countries Seek Ways To Restore Work On Traditional Knowledge Protection At WIPO

The fate of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee dedicated to finding solutions to protect traditional knowledge, generic resources, and folklore is being actively discussed informally at the organisation's general assembly.

Catherine Saez
October 6, 2015
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IP Clauses In FTAs Should Not Go Beyond TRIPS, Generics Manufacturers Say

Free trade agreements should include incentives for generic and biosimilar medicines, speakers said at a panel during the World Trade Organization Public Forum last week.

Catherine Saez
October 4, 2015

India: Poor Man’s Intellectual Property Is Hijacked

It is a healthy trend that the awareness on GI is on the rise in India. However, the misuse of GI legislation also is rampant. Recent past has witnessed many instances of inappropriate GI Registrations, writes Praveen Raj.

Industry Holds Closed-Door Conference With Governments On Access And Benefit-Sharing

A conference involving European governments and industry on how to comply with the new European Union rules on access and benefit sharing, organised by the International Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the agriculture industry, is taking place this week in Paris. Seemingly contrary to the subject of access and sharing, the event is closed to the public and media.

Intellectual Property Watch
September 28, 2015

African Group Proposes Permanent Traditional Knowledge Committee At WIPO

In a couple of weeks, the World Intellectual Property Organization will hold its annual General Assembly. The African Group is asking the Assembly transform the committee devoted to finding a way to protect genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore from misappropriation into a standing committee. This would allow the committee to avoid seeking the renewal of its existence every two years, which it faces again at this year’s Assembly.

Catherine Saez
September 23, 2015
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Paper: Strict Plant Variety Protection In Africa Goes Beyond International Regulation

A new paper by a Norwegian researcher finds that recent legislation efforts on plant variety protection in Africa go beyond the requirements of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

Catherine Saez
September 22, 2015

US Proposes Suspension Of WIPO TK Committee; Switzerland And Others Counter

The normative work at the World Intellectual Property Organization on the protection of traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and folklore was suspended last year. In the lead-up to the 2015 WIPO General Assembly, the United States has proposed to discontinue the mandate of the committee working on the subject. The US suggests replacing the committee with seminars, studies, and an experts working group. Meanwhile, Switzerland, on behalf of a group of countries, has proposed that the committee's work resume. And still other countries may be seeking to make the committee a permanent feature at the UN agency.

Catherine Saez
September 11, 2015
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