Negotiations

SCCR 33: Argentina, Colombia and Mexico – Note on the Draft Treaty to Protect Broadcasting Organizations

Posted on by Thiru

On 8 November 2016, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published a submission by Argentina, Colombia and Mexico entitled, “Note on the Draft Treaty to Protect Broadcasting Organizations” (SCCR/33/5). In their proposal, the proponents (Argentina, Colombia and Mexico) note that negotiations on a WIPO broadcast treaty have gone on for 18 years and 33 sessions of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR). Continue Reading →

9 November 2016 – WTO TRIPS Council – WHO’s intervention on the Report of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines

Posted on by Thiru

On Wednesday, 9 November 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) delivered the following statement at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council’s discussions of the United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Panel Report on Access to Medicines.

COUNCIL FOR TRIPS

8-9 NOVEMBER 2016

WHO STATEMENT

13. THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL’S HIGH LEVEL PANEL REPORT ON ACCESS TO MEDICINES

Thank you very much for giving WHO the opportunity to share our feedback on the Report of the High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines.

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9 November 2016 – WTO TRIPS Council – Brazil’s intervention on the Report of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines

Posted on by Thiru

On 9 November 2016, the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council held discussions on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel Report on Access to Medicines (UN HLP). These timely WTO discussions on the UN HLP germinated from a 27 October 2016 request by Brazil, China, India and South Africa requesting the WTO Secretariat to place a dedicated agenda item for consideration at the 8-9 November 2016 session of the TRIPS Council entitled “the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel Report on Access to Medicines.”

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WTO TRIPS Council – Brazil, China, India and South Africa request discussion of the UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines

Posted on by Staff

On Thursday, 27 October 2016, Brazil, China, India and South Africa submitted a communication (IP/C/W/619) to the World Trade Organization (WTO) requesting the WTO Secretariat to “place a dedicated agenda item for consideration at the 8-9 November 2016 session of the TRIPS Council entitled “the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel Report on Access to Medicines.” In the WTO submission, Brazil, China, India and South Africa enclosed the entire Final Report of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Continue Reading →

WIPO General Assembly 2016: Opening Statement of Knowledge Ecology International

Posted on by KEI Staff

On October 4th, 2016, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) delivered this opening statement on the occasion of the Fifty-Sixth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).


KEI General Statement – WIPO General Assembly – 2016

October 4th, 2016

Thank you Chair for providing Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) the opportunity to speak today.

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National Association of Manufacturers told USTR the EU position on LDC extension made a mockery of international trading system

Posted on by Thiru

On September 10, 2015, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), wrote to USTR expressing alarm at the European Union support of an indefinite extension of a WTO waiver of obligations to grant patents on pharmaceuticals for UN defined least developed countries (LDCs). In 2015, there were 954 million persons living in LDCs, with a per capita income of $964, according to the World Bank. The EU had aligned itself with health advocates trying to protect the bottom billion access to life saving medicines.

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Summary of Report of United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines

Posted on by Zack Struver

On September 14, 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines released its report, in which they had a mandate to “review and assess proposals and recommend solutions for remedying the policy incoherence between the justifiable rights of inventors, international human rights law, trade rules and public health in the context of health technologies.”[1]

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SCP24:WIPO patent committee adopts robust work program on patents and health, limitations and exceptions and quality of patents

Posted on by Thiru

On 30 June 2016, the 24th session of the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) agreed to an ambitious work program on patents and health, exceptions and limitations to patent rights, quality of patents, transfer of technology and confidentiality of communications between clients and their patent advisors.

On patents and health, the Committee agreed to the following: