Intervention of the Holy See: WIPO Diplomatic Conference on a Treaty for the Blind
The Holy See delivered this statement on 18 June 2013 at the Marrakesh Diplomatic Conference on a WIPO Treaty for the Blind.
Statement by His Excellency Archbishop Silvano M. TomasiPermanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN and Other International Organizations in Geneva at World Intellectual Property Organization Diplomatic Conference to Conclude a Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities Marrakech (Morocco)
18 June 2013
Mr. President,
Continue ReadingAmbassador Eileen Donahoe explains why United States will not vote for UN resolution on access to medicine
On 13 June 2013, Ambassador Eileen Donahoe delivered the following intervention on resolution L.10/Rev.1 on Access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of physical and mental health explaining why the United States called for a vote on this resolution and would abstain.
Explanation of vote, on the resolution entitled “Access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”Human Rights Council: Intervention of Brazil on resolution on access to medicines in the context of the right to health
On Thursday, 13 June 2013, at the Twenty-third session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Brazil delivered the following intervention introducing draft resolution L.10/Rev.1 on Access to medicines in the context of the right of everyone to the enjoyment of physical and mental health on behalf of India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA), Egypt, Indonesia, Senegal and Thailand and 27 original cosponsors including Gabon, on behalf of the 54 countries of the African Group.
Mr. President,Obama administration blocking consensus at Human Rights Council on access to medicines resolution
In their introduction to Realizing the Right to Health, Andrew Clapham and Mary Robinson provide the following anecdote.
The run up to the 2008 election in the United States focused at one point on the nature of health care in America. During the second presidential debate, the candidates were asked the following question: “Is health care in America a privilege, a right, or a responsibility?” Senator Obama (as he then was) replied as follows:WTO TRIPS Council: Intervention of India on Intellectual Property, Climate Change and Development (June 2013)
On 27 February 2013, Ecuador submitted a paper (IP/C/W/585) to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Council) titled “Contribution of Intellectual Property to Facilitating the Transfer of Environmentally Rational Technology“. This subject was placed under agenda item 11 at the June TRIPS Council’s meeting under the heading of “Intellectual Property, Climate Change and Development”.
Proposed US language on a decision point on CEWG
On Friday, 24 May 2013, in the United States’ intervention to the 66th World Health Assembly’s deliberations on the Consultative Expert Working Group on R&D Financing, the US dropped a bombshell by proposing a decision point with the following language. We expect the Assembly to reconvene at 14:30 Geneva time and discuss the US proposal.
Joint Letter to the 66th World Health Assembly: Follow-up of the report of the CEWG
Joint Letter to the 66th World Health Assembly: Follow-up of the report of the CEWG
20 May 2013
Distinguished Delegate,
We urge the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Member States to exercise leadership, ambition and innovative thinking in developing new paradigms to take forward the work of the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination (CEWG) in reconciling the objectives of stimulating medical innovation and ensuring access for all.
WTO: Spotlight on the United States at the Trade Policy Review (December 2012)
On 18 December 2012 and 20 December 2012, the World Trade Organization (WTO) undertook a trade policy review of the United States of America. All members of the WTO are subject to review under the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). The questions raised by WTO Members during the US TPR touched upon on compulsory licensing (including cases of judicial compulsory licensing following eBay v. MercExchange), copyright (Golan v. Holder), the Special 301 report and the Medicines Patent Pool. On 30 April 2013, the WTO released the records of the meeting including WT/TPR/M/275. Continue Reading
Treaty for the Blind: US démarche opposes references to “fair practices, dealings or uses to meet their needs”
As mentioned in our piece, State of Play: Treaty for the Blind negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization, the February 2013 special session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) reached agreement on a cluster of provisions on the Treaty’s treatment of the copyright three-step test that resulted in the ARTICLE(S) section contained in SCCR/25/2/Rev. Continue Reading
WIPO broadcast treaty discussions: US advocates for a simplified signal-based approach
On 11 April 2013, the United States made the following intervention on day 2 of the WIPO inter-sessional meeting on the protection of broadcasting organizations. The US noted the concerns expressed by content holders, technology companies, consumer and civil society groups about “creating extra layers of protection requiring additional clearance of rights”.