The Algerian coordinator of the African Group just outlined the state of play on the language concerning access to knowledge.
As reported previously, the language of paragraph 3 of Cluster B reads:
3. To discuss possible new initatives and strengthen existing mechanisms within WIPO to facilitate [access to knowledge] and technology for developing countries and LDCs and to foster creativity and innovation within WIPO’s mandate.
This decision by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) involves a dispute over the proper remedy for the importation of various infringing chips made by Qualcom that are used in cell phones. The Qualcom chips infringe on patents held by Broadcom.
This is a link to David Serafino’s blog of the May 30 brownbag discussion on new U.S. trade policy and access to medicine. David’s blog includes comments from a number of persons, including Fabiana Jorge of MFJ International, Rob Weissman of Essential Action, Stephanie Burgos of Oxfam, Brook Baker from Health Gap, Shawn Brown of GPHA, Matt Kavanaugh of Student Global AIDS Campaign, Buddhi Lokuge of Doctors Without Borders, and James Love of Knowledge Ecology International.
Earlier this week, I met in Seoul with civil society fighting the Korus FTA. They are generally opposed to reopening negotiations at this point, but if they do, they hope to have the intellectual property and access to medicines provisions reopened. Continue Reading
According to this GQ story, the H-Prize (HR 632, 110th Congress) passed the House today by a vote of 408 to 8.
Every two years, H-Prizes worth $1 million would be given in four categories: production, storage, distribution and utilization. One $4 million prize would be awarded for hydrogen vehicles. At the end of 10 years, a $10 million grand prize would be given for a “transformational advance in hydrogen energy technology.”
I think these are two positive steps for Bush. This was my take on this in the Huffington Post on the Zoellick pick for the World Bank. Bush could have done worse (and did with Wolfowitz). Continue Reading
On May 30, KEI hosted a brown bag lunch discussion on guidelines for the new U.S. trade policy recently released by the Congressional Ways and Means Committee and the Bush Administration. The event began with brief statements by panelists Fabiana… Continue Reading
According to this May 23 press release, the bill creating the H-Prize Act unanimously passed the House Committee on Science and Technology. The bill creates prizes for scientific breakthroughs in the use of hydrogen as an energy source for transportation.