On 30 July 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened a formal meeting of the TRIPS Council. The TRIPS Council held discussions on two COVID-19 related topics: agenda item 3 on IP Measures in the Context of COVID-19 and agenda… Continue Reading
On 14 May 2020, Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced he would step down from his post as Director-General of the organization on 31 August 2020; to say this news was a surprise is an understatement… Continue Reading
On Friday, 19 June 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened an informal virtual Open-ended Meeting of the TRIPS Council. . The following statements were delivered by South Africa at the virtual open-ended informal meeting of the TRIPS Council. In… Continue Reading
On June 9, 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body circulated its reports relating to the Australia – Tobacco Plain Packaging cases. The reports issued the decision regarding the appeals brought by Honduras and the Dominican Republic against the… Continue Reading
Since 1974, the “Special 301 Report” (the Report) provides an annual review of the state of intellectual property protection and enforcement among U.S. trading partners around the world. Amended in 1988 by Congress, the Trade Act is “to provide for… Continue Reading
On April 29, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) published its annual Special 301 Report. A PDF copy of the report is available here. KEI has compiled copies of the Special 301 Report for every year since its inception… Continue Reading
Background In 2001, the World Trade Organization (WTO) began negotiations on the rules regarding patents and access to medicine. While several issues were clarified and resolved in the November 2001 “Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health”, the negotiations took… Continue Reading
Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative hosted the hearing for the annual Special 301 Review. The review process includes a solicitation of written comments and hearing testimony, and results in the publication of the Special 301 Report.… Continue Reading
On Friday, 14 February 2020, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) submitted the following comments on the Draft General Comment on Science and economic, social and cultural rights prepared by the the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights (CESCR). The draft… Continue Reading
EU-Mercosur-IP-Chapter We will add more extensive notes next week. But a few items are worth noting,including, to start, the Principals. Article X.4 Principles 1. Each Party recognises that the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights can and must be… Continue Reading