Category Human Rights

WHO Adopts “Most Important Document Since Doha” On IP And Public Health

By William New The annual World Health Assembly on Saturday adopted a global strategy aimed at filling the research gap for diseases afflicting developing countries that places the UN agency squarely in global intellectual property policymaking and despite compromises is…

William New
May 29, 2008
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Debate Surrounds Final WHO Global Strategy, Action Plan On IP And Health

By William New [Update: The assembly reached agreement on the global strategy, but the final text is not available, according to the WHO.] Draft texts of a global strategy, plan of action and resolution on ways to stimulate research into…

William New
May 24, 2008

WHO Members Near Accord On Global Strategy On IP And Health

By William New Down to the final hours before the closing ceremonies of this year’s World Health Assembly, governments have nearly completed work on a global strategy to stimulate research into neglected diseases disproportionately affecting poor populations. But work skipped…

William New
May 24, 2008

Slow Going On Intellectual Property, Innovation Strategy At Health Assembly

[Note: new 23 May draft text of strategy and plan of action posted to IP-Watch Subscriber section] By William New Negotiators of a global strategy to boost innovation in and access to treatments for under-researched diseases largely afflicting the poor…

William New
May 22, 2008

World Health Assembly Opens On Note Of Global Crises, Hope For IP

By William New The 61st annual World Health Assembly on Monday opened auspiciously with speeches on the world’s biggest political issues, current disasters and looming global threats, but little room for intellectual property issues. IP issues did arise in a…

William New
May 20, 2008

Intellectual Property Issues Come To A Head At World Health Assembly

[Note: Monday midday update below] By William New Member governments of the World Health Organization will try this week to finalise a strategy and plan of action to stimulate innovation on diseases disproportionately affecting poor populations. The members also will…

William New
May 19, 2008

Suspension des obligations au titre de l’Accord sur les ADPIC: une alternative croissante en matière de sanction

Par Catherine Saez Prendre des mesures de rétorsion à l’égard d’un pays violant les règles de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce (OMC) en sanctionnant les activités qu’il exerce dans un secteur autre que celui concerné par la violation constitue une alternative…

Catherine Saez
May 16, 2008

UN Events Map Efforts To Narrow Digital Divide, Increase Information Access

By Kaitlin Mara Nearly three weeks of meetings of governments, civil society organisations, trade groups, and intergovernmental bodies will report on how far nations have come towards bridging the so-called “digital divide” between those who have access to information technology…

Kaitlin Mara
May 16, 2008

IP Rights Arise In UN Debate On The Right To Participate In Cultural Life

By Catherine Saez Intellectual property rights came into play in a recent discussion on the right of all humans to take part in cultural life organised by the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR). The right…

Catherine Saez
May 15, 2008

Suspensión de obligaciones en virtud del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC: una nueva alternativa de retorsión de la OMC

Por Catherine Saez Cuando un país infringe las normas de la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC), la retorsión contra dicho país mediante la imposición de sanciones a sus actividades en un sector comercial no relacionado puede ser una opción más…

Catherine Saez
May 15, 2008

Suspending TRIPS Obligations: A Rising Alternative For WTO Retaliation

By Catherine Saez
Retaliating against a country found in violation of World Trade Organization rules by sanctioning the country's activities in an unrelated trade sector may be a more effective alternative for developing countries than retaliating under the sector of the violation, especially when such cross-retaliation involves WTO rules on intellectual property rights, an expert told a panel this week.

European Parliament Set To Reprimand Mandelson For Pressuring Thailand

By David Cronin for Intellectual Property Watch BRUSSELS – The European Parliament looks set to take Brussels’ top trade official to task over his latest attempt to persuade Thailand that it should revise its policy on pharmaceutical patents. Shortly after…

David Cronin
May 9, 2008