Intellectual Property/TRIPS

China says int’l (WTO) IP rules will apply in domestic trials

18 January, 2007
Washington Trade Daily
International intellectual property rights laws will take precedence whenever they are applied in Chinese domestic trials even if they differ from domestic laws, a senior judicial figure told a national conference on IPR-related trials according to the China Daily newspaper

Working Group discusses elements of global strategy, plan of action

6 December, 2006
Sangeeta Shashikant, TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Dec06/05)
The World Health Organization's Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (IGWG), at its meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday, held discussions on the elements of a global strategy and plan of action in relation to intellectual property, health R&D and public health.

WHO Working Group on IPRs and Health holds first meeting

6 December, 2006
Sangeeta Shashikant, TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Dec06/05)
The World Health Organization's Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (IGWG) began its first session on Monday where procedural issues dominated much of the discussions.

Warnings raised over GE rice imports

27 November, 2006
www.inq7.net
A VARIETY of genetically engineered (GE) rice yet to be approved for human consumption throughout the world except in the United States has found its way into the Philippine market, the activist environment group Greenpeace said Tuesday.

Some doubts on Broadcast Treaty after assembly decision

6 November, 2006
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Nov06/06)
The WIPO General Assembly has adopted a decision on the protection of broadcasting organizations which goes a few steps backwards on negotiating and finalizing a new treaty on the issue.

Diplomatic conference on broadcast treaty premature

6 November, 2006
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Nov06/06)
Several developing countries cautioned against approving the recommendations of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) to convene a Diplomatic Conference on the protection of broadcasting and cablecasting organizations during discussions on this agenda item on Wednesday at the WIPO General Assembly.

WIPO general assemblies begin

6 November, 2006
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Nov06/06)
The meetings of the WIPO General Assembly (GA) began on Monday (25 September), with Members generally proclaiming their positions on issues that are expected to be contentious and to dominate much of the debate at this current annual session.

Decision taken on development agenda, patents, broadcasting

6 November, 2006
TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Nov06/06)
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has adopted decisions on how to proceed on three important issues that have been pre-occupying its General Assembly in the past week.

Clash in TRIPS Council on IPR enforcement issue

1 November, 2006
By Martin Khor, TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Nov06/04)
Many developing countries have opposed another attempt by the European Union and other developed countries to have the TRIPS Council of the WTO to deal with enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Clash in TRIPS Council on IPR enforcement issue

1 November, 2006
By Martin Khor, TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Nov06/04)
Many developing countries have opposed another attempt by the European Union and other developed countries to have the TRIPS Council of the WTO to deal with enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Bharatiya Kissan Union prevents contamination from a GM rice plot in Haryana:

27 October, 2006
Bharatiya Kissan Union
Finds out that farmer had not been given information on the trial in his land; Ensures that DBT guidelines are followed by the company.

WTO TRIPS Council Stumbles Over Inclusion Of Enforcement

26 October, 2006
Intellectual Property Watch
A meeting of the World Trade Organization committee responsible for intellectual property rights this week erupted in disagreement over how to address enforcement of those rights in the committee.

Final GMO panel limits application of MEAs in future WTO disputes

12 October, 2006
Inside U.S. Trade
The final World Trade Organization panel ruling on the European Union's moratorium on approvals of products with genetically modified organisms contains findings that will likely limit the extent to which future WTO panels will consider multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), according to private-sector sources.

Report 7 of UNCTAD meetings: Supachai outlines reform measures at UNCTAD MTR meeting

9 October, 2006
By Martin Khor, TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues (Oct06/08)
A brief outline of how he intends to undertake some internal reforms in UNCTAD was given by its Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi at the policy dialogue of UNCTAD's Mid-Term Review on 4 October.

WTO undermines right to act with precaution: Greenpeace assessment GE-Biotech dispute ruling

28 September, 2006
GreenPeace
Greenpeace International today released a legal assessment of the World Trade Organisation

Transatlantic biotech trade war: 'No Winners' says FOEE as WTO makes ruling public

28 September, 2006
Foe - Europe
Press Release: Friends of the Earth Europe has today called for alternative ways to deal with environmental trade disputes.The call comes as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) publishes its final ruling on the transatlantic trade dispute on genetically modified (GM) foods.

Korea, US Restart Talks Over Drug-Pricing Policies

19 August, 2006
Korea Times
South Korea and the United States will start two-day working-level talks in Singapore Monday focusing mainly on procedural matters regarding Korea

Victory for HIV carriers as Glaxo drops patent bid

16 August, 2006
Pennapa Hongthong , The Nation
After being pressured by Thai and international activists for years, GlaxoSmithKline has withdrawn its patent application for a key anti-retroviral drug in Thailand and India.

Growing movement opposing granting of drug patents

3 August, 2006
By Sangeeta Shashikant, TWN Info Service on WTO and Trade Issues
Many more cases are being filed in India by groups representing HIV/AIDS patients against the granting of patents for HIV/AIDS medicines, adding to the initial two cases after a 2005 amendment to the Indian patent law.

WTO TRIPs Proposal Would Address Biopiracy

29 June, 2006
IATP
Poor countries want new rules for the WTO's intellectual property agreement that would protect their biological resources and traditional knowledge