Geneva Fall/Winter 2012: What’s in store at the WHO, WIPO and WTO
As Geneva awakes from its summer slumber post-Jeûne genevois (6 September 2012), the following conferences and negotiations are expected to shape the knowledge governance landscape in the second semester of 2012 at WHO, WIPO and WTO.
World Health Organization
Here are upcoming meetings of the WHO in 2012 of relevance to public heath, innovation and access.
The 1967 Stockholm Revision of the Berne Convention Protocol Regarding Developing Countries
The 1967 Stockholm Revision of the Berne Convention Protocol Regarding Developing Countries This could be referred to as the forgotten access to knowledge treaty. The text of the 1967 Protocol for Developing Countries in the Stockholm Revision of the Berne… Continue Reading
Berne Exceptions not subject to 3-step test
When politicians and trade officials tell you they want to impose a restrictive 3-step test to narrow the copyright limitations and exceptions permitted under the Berne Convention, take a minute to review what the Berne exceptions cover, and ask yourself, why would anyone want to further limit these exceptions?
[The related rights in the Rome Convention, the rights in the WCT, WPPT and Beijing treaties, and the flexabilities in the WTO TRIPS Agreement require a separate discussion].
Article 2(4,7 and 8) – Protected Works:
Final conclusions from SCCR 24
These are the final conclusions from SCCR 24, as approved early Thursday morning.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR)
Twenty–fourth Session
Geneva, July 25, 2012Draft conclusions
Agenda
SCCR24 points to a pathway for a diplomatic conference for VIPs; extraordinary GA to be held in December 2012
Plenary has resumed at 1:32 AM on 26 July 2012. Reproduced below are the conclusions of SCCR 24.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR)
Twenty–fourth Session
Geneva, July 25, 2012
Draft conclusions
AgendaSCCR24: India on Contribution of the SCCR to the implementation of the respective Development Agenda recommendations
INDIA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Indian Delegation joins the distinguished Delegations of Iran, Egypt, South Africa in supporting the statement by the Distinguished Delegate and leader of the Development Agenda Group, the Brazil Indian Delegate. The Development Agenda recommendations and goals have achieved recent success in the Beijing spirit when we included the paragraphs, the preamble of the new treaty. And from there we have been listing — participating in the norm setting activities, in the limitations and exceptions.
NGOs on Libraries and Archives July 25, 2012 at SCCR24
Libraries, public interest and other NGOs intervention followed the governments discussions on the topics for libraries and archives:
>> CHAIR: … Strictly three minutes.
Last day at SCCR 24, July 25, 2012 Governments views regarding libraries and archives
Government’s interventions (excerpts) on the libraries and archives and how to continue work on possible 11 topics (or only 2 or 3?) that should be prioritized
Here are the topics:
Preservation of library and archival materials
Reproduction and Distribution of Copies by Libraries and Archives
Legal deposit
Supply of works/Library lending
Right to Parallel Importation
Right to Cross-Border Uses
Orphaned works
Limitation on Liability for Libraries and Archives
Obligations Concerning Technological Protection Measures
Relationship with contracts
Right to Translate WorksKicking the can down the road? Draft conclusions for SCCR 24, from 10:45 PM, July 24, 2012
Below are the draft conclusions, from the evening informal negotiations session on future work. The document say the version is current as of 10:45 PM, Geneva time.
Time is running out at SCCR24 and there is a lot at stake
India like many other delegations (except the EU Commission and the US) has been a strong advocate for the treaty to faciltate access and sharing of accessible formats. There is a lot at stake.
According to the WHO page on the incidence of visual impairments in India:
285 million people are visually impaired worldwide: 39 million are blind and 246 have low vision.
About 90% of the world’s visually impaired live in developing countries.India has a particularly large population of blind persons:
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