Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Negotiators at the World Intellectual Property Organization today scheduled another meeting on a proposed broadcasters’ rights treaty before deciding whether to recommend a full negotiation. They also took the significant step of putting an unpopular proposal to include webcasting in…
A group of countries led by Brazil, India and Peru has indicated that it intends to present a text relating to the discussions at the World Trade Organization (WTO) on biodiversity “in days, not weeks” suggesting an amendment to current…
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (US)–A late April conference at prestigious Yale University Law School gave new focus and momentum to a growing movement aimed at protecting the public’s right to access knowledge. The effort seeks to slow years of momentum in…
On the second day of a weeklong meeting at World Intellectual Property Organization on copyright issues, there is little indication so far whether member governments will recommend the full negotiation of a treaty boosting the protection of broadcasts, according to…
The world’s largest pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, is suing the Philippine government for having imported and registered – but not marketed – a product that is still under patent. At the same time, industry is said to be lobbying against a…
Negotiators addressing proposals for the protection of traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions (folklore) and genetic resources ran aground over whether to address potentially legal text before completing work on objectives and principles. The committee will meet again on 4-12 December…
A committee representing the World Health Organization executive board today added more recommendations to a draft resolution based on a recent WHO intellectual property report, many of which were expressed by developing countries and Kenya in particular. Brazil also made…
A draft resolution from the World Health Organization based on a recent WHO report on intellectual property rights and public health calls for “a global plan of action,” particularly with regard to diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries. The resolution…
In preparation for the World Health Assembly in May, a group representing the World Health Organization (WHO) executive board will meet this week to discuss a recent WHO report on intellectual property rights and public health as well as a…
By William New and Tove Iren S. Gerhardsen Developing country members of the World Intellectual Property Organization this week are demanding that a key committee on genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore be mandated to agree on a legally binding…