ICTSD • Bridges Weekly

Bridges Weekly
21st May 2008 SUPACHAI TO UNDERTAKE CONSULTATIONS ON GIS At an informal heads of delegation meeting on 14 May, WTO Members… 19th March 2008 CALL FOR WORK ON EXCEPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS IN WIPO COPYRIGHT COMMITTEE Exceptions and limitations to copyright protection dominated… 12th March 2008 SLUGGISH START TO WIPO TALKS ON IMPLEMENTING DEVELOPMENT AGENDA RECOMMENDATIONS Progress was slow during the first meeting of the World Intellectual… 13th February 2008 BIOFUELS MAY BE INCREASING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, NEW STUDIES SUGGEST The growing popularity of biofuels may actually be hurting the… 19th September 2007 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TRIPS AMENDMENT VOTE POSTPONED ONCE AGAIN The European Parliament’s international… KENYAN PARLIAMENT REJECTS PATENT LAW AMENDMENTS, PRESERVES TRIPS FLEXIBILITIES The Kenyan parliament last week rejected proposed amendments… 5th September 2007 NOVARTIS PATENT CHALLENGE DISMISSED IN INDIA Pharmaceutical giant Novartis saw its challenge to Indian patent… 25th July 2007 REVISED WHO PLAN FOR PHARMACEUTICAL R&D CALLED A ‘REASONABLE PLACE TO START The World Health Organization has released an updated version… 18th July 2007 WIPO COMMITTEE ON GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXTENDED ONCE MORE A World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) committee agreed… EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELAYS VOTE ON TRIPS AMENDMENT, PENDING NEW SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE DRUGS The European Parliament has delayed the ratification of an amendment… 11th July 2007 WIPO COMMITTEE ON GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE INCONCLUSIVE THUS FAR After over six years of discussions, members of the World Intellectual… 27th June 2007 RATIFICATION OF TRIPS HEALTH AMENDMENT LANGUISHES, WITH FIVE MONTHS TO GO One and a half years after governments agreed on how to amend… 20th June 2007 WIPO MEMBERS AGREE ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA In the fourth and final session of the committee dealing with… WIPO BROADCAST TREATY TALKS COLLAPSE Ten years of discussions on an international treaty to update… 14th June 2007 WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA COMMITTEE GETS TO GRIPS WITH TRICKY ISSUES A World Intellectual Property Organization committee charged… 23rd May 2007 WHO MEMBERS ADOPT RESOLUTION ON PHARMACEUTICAL INNOVATION Intellectual property issues were prominent at the World Health… 9th May 2007 BRAZIL ISSUES COMPULSORY LICENCE FOR AIDS DRUG Brazil issued a compulsory licence for the patented AIDS drug… 25th April 2007 WHO MEMBERS DIVIDED OVER PLAN FOR PROMOTING PHARMACEUTICAL INNOVATION The World Health Organization (WHO) last week made public member… EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE IMAGINES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CIRCA 2025 The European Patent Office (EPO) has published a report surveying… 14th March 2007 THAI GOVERNMENT EXPLAINS COMPULSORY LICENCE POLICY ON PATENTED DRUGS Thailand’s government on 8 March released a report elucidating… 10th March 2007 TRIPS COUNCIL DISCUSSES BIODIVERSITY, HEALTH IN INFORMAL MODE At the 8 March meeting of the WTO Council for Trade-related Aspects… 6th March 2007 Avance significativo en la Agenda del Desarrollo de la OMPI Delegados de 105 gobiernos lograron un avance significativo en… 28th February 2007 BREAKTHROUGH ON WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Delegates from 105 governments have made a breakthrough in negotiations… No consensus on key issues in the trips council Members are debating whether to extend the higher level of geographical… 14th February 2007 MEMBERS PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF ON GIs, TRIPS-CBD - STILL STUCK WTO Members remain divided on how to address geographical indications… 5th February 2007 India’s Patent Act On Trial The challenge is significant on two counts. The key issue in… 1st February 2007 WHO ADDRESSES TRADE, HEALTH, IP, AND INNOVATION Issues related to trade, research and development, and intellectual… 31st January 2007 THAILAND AUTHORISES GENERIC PRODUCTION OF TWO MORE PATENTED DRUGS Thailand’s government has issued compulsory licences for… 24th January 2007 GOVERNMENTS REMAIN DIVIDED ON WIPO BROADCAST TREATY The future of a potential global treaty expanding the rights… 13th December 2006 WHO GROUP ON HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDS FIRST MEETING Delegates from more than 100 member states of the World Health… 15th November 2006 THE DOHA DECLARATION ON TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH, FIVE YEARS ON Government officials, businesses and civil society groups alike… 8th November 2006 NEW FORUM HOLDS FIRST MEETING ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE Spam, cybercrime, online freedom of expression, security, multilingualism,… 6th October 2006 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PRESS FOR SPEEDIER WIPO TALKS ON GR, TK uring the annual General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property… 27th September 2006 WIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNDERWAY The 33rd annual General Assembly (GA) of the World Intellectual… 20th September 2006 WIPO COMMITTEE APPROVES BROADCAST TREATY AMIDST DISAGREEMENT In spite of persistent differences over its content, a potential… 5th July 2006 WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA MEETING BREAKS DOWN OVER CHAIR’S TEXT Members of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)… 31st May 2006 WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON R&D, TRADE AND HEALTH World Health Organisation members have agreed to launch official… 24th May 2006 LATIN AMERICAN HEALTH MINISTERS STRESS LINKS BETWEEN IP AND HEALTH On 23 May, health ministers from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,… 19th May 2006 TRANSFER AGREEMENT FOR GENETIC RESOURCES RECEIVES TENTATIVE SUPPORT Delegates at the second meeting of the Contact Group established… 10th May 2006 WIPO MOVES FORWARD ON BROADCASTING TREATY, WEBCASTING TALKS SPLIT OFF World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) members have… 26th April 2006 WIPO PATENT HARMONISATION TALKS ADRIFT AFTER MEETING COLLAPSES World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) talks on whether… 14th April 2006 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PROPOSE DISCLOSURE AT WIPO PATENT MEETING A group of developing countries proposed at a 10-12 April informal… 5th April 2006 CRITICS QUESTION VALUE OF WHO COMMISSION REPORT ON INNOVATION, IP AND PUBLIC HEALTH After more than two years of work, the report produced by the… NEW WIPO TRADEMARK LAW TREATY ADOPTED IN SINGAPORE Member states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation… 22nd March 2006 TRIPS: MEMBERS STILL SPLIT ON RELATIONSHIP WITH CBD; GI TALKS GOING NOWHERE WTO Members remain divided on how best to achieve the objectives… 1st March 2006 WIPO MEMBERS AGREE ON HOW TO STRUCTURE FUTURE TALKS ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA After a week’s talks, members of the World Intellectual… 8th February 2006 WTO PANEL PROVISIONALLY RULES AGAINST EU MORATORIUM ON BIOTECH APPROVALS A WTO dispute panel on 7 February issued a preliminary ruling… 25th January 2006 IP STANDARDS IN US-PERU FTA TO AFFECT TALKS WITH COLOMBIA AND ECUADOR? Stepping away from nearly one and a half years of negotiations… 30th November 2005 CHILE AND BRAZIL PROPOSE PUBLIC INTEREST EXEMPTIONS TO WIPO BROADCAST TREATY Brazil and Chile’s calls for a series of public interest… EU AGREES TO NEW BANANA TARIFF OF EUR 176 PER TONNE EU member states overcame internal disagreement on 25 November… LDCs GRANTED LIMITED EXTENSION FOR IMPLEMENTING TRIPS COMMITMENTS WTO Members agreed on 29 November to give least-developed countries… TAIWAN ISSUES COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR TAMIFLU Taiwan has become the first country to issue a compulsory licence… AG, IP HOBBLE ANDEAN-US FREE TRADE TALKS Nine days of free trade negotiations between the US and Colombia,… 23rd November 2005 WSIS MEETING CHANGES LITTLE ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE OR DIGITAL DIVIDE FUNDING The second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society… 2nd November 2005 GI TALKS GOING IN CIRCLES; EU MAKES GI EXTENSION HONG KONG PRIORITY The Special Session of the WTO Council on Trade-related Aspects… 19th October 2005 ADELPHI CHARTER LAUNCHED ON CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY A commission of artists, scientists, lawyers, politicians, academics… 12th October 2005 BRAZIL ASKS FOR CROSS-RETALIATION UNDER TRIPS, GATS IN COTTON DISPUTE WITH US Alleging that the US has missed the 21 September deadline to… 5th October 2005 WIPO MEMBERS CREATE NEW FORUM TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)… 15th June 2005 WIPO COMMITTEE FAILS TO MOVE ON TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE TREATY The eighth session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation… COLOMBIA CANCELS PATENTS ON 250 PRODUCTS OF MULTINATIONALS On 8 June, the Colombian Regulatory Authority for Industry and… 8th June 2005 WIPO MEMBERS FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT AT PATENT HARMONISATION MEETING Differences between developed and developing countries on how… BRAZIL MOVES TO BREAK AIDS DRUG PATENTS; ANALYSTS MOOT PATENT-BREAKING AS WTO RETALIATION On 1 June 2005 the Justice and Constitution Commission in Brazil’s… 1st June 2005 WHO MEETING DISCUSSES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND PUBLIC HEALTH On 27 May, fourteen countries presented a draft resolution on… 20th April 2005 DISCUSSIONS ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA CONTINUE IN WIPO COMMITTEE fter three days of debate on how to integrate developmental concerns… HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CALLS ON STATES TO USE TRIPS FLEXIBILITIES The UN Commission on Human Rights has called on its 53 members… 13th April 2005 WIPO: INDIA REJECTS OUTCOME OF CASABLANCA PATENT HARMONISATION MEETING On 5 April Indian government circulated an informal note to Geneva-based… 23rd March 2005 INDIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES CONTROVERSIAL PATENT BILL The Indian parliament has approved a controversial patent bill… 16th March 2005 TRIPS COUNCIL MEETING SUSPENDED IN EFFORT TO MEET PUBLIC HEALTH DEADLINE Public health and biodiversity issues were again the items sparking… EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE UPHOLDS NEEM PATENT REVOCATION IN BIOPIRACY CASE In the first conclusion of a biopiracy case in its history, the… 9th March 2005 DEVELOPING COUNTRY GROUP OFFICIALLY REJECTS INFORMAL WIPO MEETING OUTCOME A group of developing countries has rejected the outcome of a… SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES REJECT ‘TRIPS-PLUS’ DEMANDS IN FTA NEGOTIATION Southern African countries have rejected the European Free Trade… 23rd February 2005 GENERAL ASSEMBLY BYPASSED IN INFORMAL WIPO TALKS ON PATENT HARMONISATION At the invitation of World Intellectual Property Organisation… 2nd February 2005 US PRESSURES GUATEMALA TO STRENGTHEN DATA PROTECTION RULES The US government has threatened to delay congressional proceedings… 19th January 2005 INDIAN TRIPS-COMPLIANCE LEGISLATION UNDER FIRE A decree issued by the Indian government to bring the country… INDIAN TRIPS-COMPLIANCE LEGISLATION UNDER FIRE A decree issued by the Indian government to bring the country… 8th December 2004 TRIPS COUNCIL CONSIDERS PUBLIC HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY Public health and biodiversity-related concerns emerged as major… 24th November 2004 INDIAN PATENT LAW CHANGES FACE RESISTANCE On 24 November, officials from the United Progressive Alliance… INDIAN PATENT LAW CHANGES FACE RESISTANCE On 24 November, officials from the United Progressive Alliance… 19th November 2004 GOVERNMENTS MEET IN GENEVA TO DISCUSS WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA GOVERNMENTS MEET IN GENEVA TO DISCUSS WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA… 17th November 2004 EU COMMISSION ADOPTS NEW IP STRATEGY On 10 November, the European Commission adopted a strategy to… 10th November 2004 EU PROPOSES RULES ON GENERIC DRUGS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES On 29 October, the European Commission proposed new regulations… EC APPROVES ANOTHER GM MAIZE VARIETY On 26 October the EC approved Monsanto’s Roundup Ready… REPORT ON GM MAIZE IN MEXICO MEETS CONTROVERSY On 8 October, the North American Commission for Environmental… 13th October 2004 CANADIAN DRUGS PATENT LAW FOR POOR COUNTRIES RELEASED FOR COMMENT On 2 October, Health Canada released for public comment regulations… 6th October 2004 MOVING FORWARD THE ‘DEVELOPMENT AGENDA’ IN WIPO In response to a proposal put forward by Brazil and Argentina,… MOVING FORWARD THE ‘DEVELOPMENT AGENDA’ IN WIPO In response to a proposal put forward by Brazil and Argentina,… 29th September 2004 DECLARATION ON FUTURE OF WIPO URGES BALANCED APPROACH TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY A 13-14 September conference organised by the Transatlantic Consumer… NO HEADWAY MADE ON GI REGISTER FOR WINES AND SPIRITS On 23 September, the special session of the Council for Trade-related… BRAZIL SUBMITS PIRACY REPORT TO USTR TO RETAIN GSP STATUS In an attempt to avoid the potential withdrawal of US trade preferences,… 15th September 2004 FUTURE OF WIPO DISCUSSED AT GENEVA MEETING The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue organised a two day meeting… EXPERTS DEBATE LINKS BETWEEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS On 14 September, a group of intellectual property experts convened… 8th September 2004 ZAMBIA TO MANUFACTURE GENERIC HIV/AIDS MEDICINES On 2 September Zambia declared HIV/AIDS a national emergency… 21st July 2004 DOHA ROUND: LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO FIND AGREEMENT ON PACKAGE DEAL UNDERWAY On 16 July, WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi and General… 14th July 2004 CONCERNS RAISED OVER ACCESS TO MEDICINES UNDER TRADE TREATIES While Geneva-based negotiators work around the clock to secure… 8th July 2004 CONCERNS RAISED AS FAO TREATY ENTERS INTO FORCE With the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for… 23rd June 2004 QUIET TRIPS COUNCIL FOCUSES ON HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY-RELATED ISSUES On 16 June trade delegates convened to continue their attempt… 22nd April 2004 TRIPS COUNCIL SCRUTINISES GI NEGOTIATING MANDATE The Council for Trade-related Aspects on Intellectual Property… 2nd February 2004 US QUIETLY PROMOTES PATENT HARMONISATION AT DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEETING Trade analysts are concerned that a number of industrialised… 26th November 2003 TRIPS COUNCIL SHOWS LITTLE PROGRESS ON HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY Discussions on public health at the 17-18 November meeting of… TRIPS COUNCIL SHOWS LITTLE PROGRESS ON HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY Discussions on public health at the 17-18 November meeting of… 15th October 2003 CANADA TO AMEND PATENT ACT, ALLOW GENERIC MEDICINE EXPORTS The Canadian government announced in late September that it would… 25th September 2003 INDIAN TRADEMARKS AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS LAWS ENTER INTO FORCE he Indian laws on trademarks and geographical indications entered… 4th September 2003 WTO MEMBERS REACH LAST-MINUTE DEAL ON TRIPS & HEALTH After a flurry of eleventh hour negotiations, WTO Members on… WTO MEMBERS REACH LAST-MINUTE DEAL ON TRIPS & HEALTH After a flurry of eleventh hour negotiations, WTO Members on… 28th August 2003 GI DISCUSSION AT A STANDSTILL AS EU PRESENTS ITS PRODUCT LIST Countries have made no headway ahead of the Cancun Ministerial… 10th July 2003 TRIPS COUNCIL MAKES NO PROGRESS ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS At the special session of the Council for Trade-related Aspects… 3rd July 2003 US RUMOURED TO CONSIDER CHANGE IN TACTIC ON TRIPS & HEALTH According to trade sources, the US is considering changing its… 12th June 2003 BUSY TRIPS COUNCIL SESSION FOCUSES ON HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY, GIS AND S&D Meeting on 4-5 June and again briefly on 6 June, the regular… 4th June 2003 EU AGREES TIERED MEDICINE PRICING FOR POOR COUNTRIES European governments on 26 May adopted a regulation that aims… 7th May 2003 TRIPS COUNCIL: GI EXTENSION ISSUE CROPS UP IN NEGOTIATIONS ON MULTILATERAL SYSTEM During its special session from 29-30 April, the Council for… 2nd April 2003 GI NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESS IN INFORMAL MODE The Ambassador Eui-yong Chung (Korea), Chair of the Council for… 27th February 2003 TRIPs COUNCIL FOCUSES ON TECH TRANSFER AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS The Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property… 19th February 2003 NO COMPROMISE IN SIGHT ON TRIPS & HEALTH Discussions at the Tokyo ‘mini-Ministerial’ on 14-16… 12th February 2003 LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SAVE TRIPS & HEALTH DISCUSSIONS A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following… LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SAVE TRIPS & HEALTH DISCUSSIONS A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following… 6th February 2003 TRIPS COUNCIL BACK AT ‘SQUARE ONE’ ON MEDICINES ISSUE The Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property… TRIPS COUNCIL BACK AT ‘SQUARE ONE’ ON MEDICINES ISSUE The Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property… LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SAVE TRIPS & HEALTH DISCUSSIONS A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following… 15th January 2003 EU INITIATIVE SEEKS TO BREAK DEADLOCK IN TRIPS & HEALTH NEGOTIATIONS Following the breakdown of talks on paragraph 6 of the Declaration… 2nd January 2003 WTO MEMBERS STILL BATTLING OVER TRIPS AND HEALTH As BRIDGES Weekly went to press, negotiations were still going… 12th December 2002 TRIPS AND HEALTH STILL BLOCKED AS DEADLINE NEARS Negotiations on paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPs… 28th November 2002 TRIPs COUNCIL: STILL NO SOLUTION ON MEDICINES IN SIGHT Informal discussions continued among heads of delegations on… 20th November 2002 INCHING TOWARDS COMPROMISE ON MEDICINES AFTER SYDNEY MINI-MINISTERIAL On 19 November, the Chairman of the WTO Council for Trade-related… INCHING TOWARDS COMPROMISE ON MEDICINES AFTER SYDNEY MINI-MINISTERIAL On 19 November, the Chairman of the WTO Council for Trade-related… 25th September 2002 STILL NO MOVEMENT IN TRIPS COUNCIL ON HEALTH OR GIS Discussions on intellectual property rights and public health… STILL NO MOVEMENT IN TRIPS COUNCIL ON HEALTH OR GIS Discussions on intellectual property rights and public health… 6th August 2002 ‘BUSINESSLIKE’ TRIPS COUNCIL CONSIDERS OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING ACCESS TO MEDICINES WTO Members met for an informal session of the Council for Trade-… 31st July 2002 Granting of Basmati Patent To US Firm Raises Traditional Knowledge Concerns In an ongoing dispute at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)… 3rd July 2002 WTO MEMBERS DIVIDED OVER GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS The issue of geographical indications was discussed at both… TRIPS COUNCIL AGREES ON EXTENSIONS FOR LDCS ON PHARMACEUTICAL PATENTS WTO Members at the 25-27 June meeting of the Council for Trade-related… 12th March 2002 DIVISIVE DEBATE OVER TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONTINUES IN TRIPS COUNCIL Intellectual property rights (IPRs) and public health again divided… 24th February 2002 WTO STALEMATE PERSISTS OVER DEVELOPING COUNTRY IMPORTS OF GENERICS Meeting last week from 14-17 October, delegates from both Geneva-based… 15th November 2001 Comprehensive Trade Round Broadens Scope Of Discussions In The WTO After a final marathon of round-the-clock… EC-ACP Cotonou Waiver Finally Granted On the sidelines of the WTO Ministerial Conference, WTO Members… NGOs Pursue New Avenues To Get Their Voice To The Table As the World Forum on the WTO, hosted in Beirut, Lebanon, came… TRIPs-Public Health Accord Seen As Bright Spot By Civil Society One of the most hard-fought battles pitting NGOs and developing… 6th November 2001 WTO Protests Mushrooming Around The Globe Given the difficulties in voicing discontent with the possible… Ministerial Texts Make Their Way To Doha, But Great Disparities Remain Ministerial Texts Make Their Way To Doha, But Great Disparities… Last-Minute Arrangements For NGOs At a briefing session for non-governmental organisations (NGOs)… 30th October 2001 Draft Declaration On TRIPs And Health Highlights Divisions In The WTO The WTO draft Declaration on intellectual property rights (IPRs)… Draft Declaration On TRIPs And Health Highlights Divisions In The WTO The WTO draft Declaration on intellectual property rights (IPRs)… New Ministerial Text To Hand Ministers A Challenge In Doha WTO General Council Chair Stuart Harbinson on 27 October released… Draft Declaration On TRIPs And Health Highlights Divisions In The WTO The WTO draft Declaration on intellectual property rights (IPRs)… New Implementation Draft - Another Round For Gains Or Grounds To Refrain [Note: all relevant Ministerial texts discussed in this article… Civil Society In Doha: Still Fewer Expected To Attend On 24 October 2001, the process of accreditation for NGOs to… 23rd October 2001 Anthrax Scare Draws New Focus On IPRs & Access To Medicines The link between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and access… Full Steam Ahead For Doha As Prep Talks Refine Ministerial Text Following renewed commitments by the US over the weekend, the… Anthrax Scare Draws New Focus On IPRs & Access To Medicines The link between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and access… WTO Heads Of Delegations Meet On Developing Country Concerns On Friday 19 October, WTO Members convened for an informal Heads… 16th October 2001 Singapore ‘Mini-Ministerial’ Moves Doha Agenda Forward Following up after a similar meeting in Mexico in August (see… 9th October 2001 Efforts Acknowledged, But Implementation Menu Far From Fulfilling While WTO Members expressed appreciation for the efforts of General… Agriculture And Environment Polarise Ministerial Process WTO Members have experienced an eventful week since a 3 October… 2nd October 2001 Sustainable Development Lacking In Draft Declaration As BRIDGES Weekly went to press, WTO Members were busy deliberating… Implementation - Finding New Ground Or Grounding To A Halt? Implementation - Finding New Ground Or Grounding To A Halt? On… ‘Shadow Boxing’ on Agriculture Negotiations At WTO Continues During the 24-28 September sessions of the WTO Committee on Agriculture,… 25th September 2001 WTO Pursues Discussion On IPRs And Access To Medicines Repeating the scenario of their June meeting on access to essential… Implementation Becoming Lynchpin Of Ministerial Process Implementation Becoming Lynchpin Of Ministerial Process At a… African Ministers Convene On Trade Priorities In Preparation For Doha The Fourth Ordinary Session of the Organization of African Unity… 18th September 2001 EC Shows Improved Understanding Of Asian Developing Countries’ Concerns At an 11 September meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, trade ministers… Speculation Emerges On Possible Trade Repercussions Of US Attacks Speaking at a news conference last Friday, WTO Director-General… 11th September 2001 Little Progress In Doha Preparations A number of recent trade meetings, including a brief informal… Civil Society In Doha: Few Into The Glass Building, None Outside It On 10 August, WTO Director General Mike Moore sent a letter to… 31st July 2001 No Progress On Doha Agenda At WTO’s ‘Reality Check At a much-awaited informal meeting of the WTO General Council… LDCs Say ‘Not Ready’ For New Round Trade ministers from the 49 Least-Developed Countries (LDCs)… Agriculture: EC Wants Food Safety In Negotiations Continuing their informal discussions at the Committee on Agriculture… 10th July 2001 NGOs Air Concerns On Trading System At WTO Symposium NGOs Air Concerns On Trading System At WTO Symposium IAt a 6-7… 3rd July 2001 LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR FAO IU REVISION After eight years of negotiations, the revision of the International… 26th June 2001 BRAZIL-US REACH AGREEMENT IN IPR DISPUTE The US on 25 June announced that it would withdraw its controversial… WTO LOOKS AT IPR FLEXIBILITY IN ACCESS TO MEDICINES In what Zimbabwean Ambassador and Chairman of the WTO Council… 19th June 2001 IPRs For Development Take Centre Stage At WTO At a forthcoming 18-22 June meeting of the WTO Council for Trade-… 8th May 2001 US-Brazil War Of Words Over Pharmaceuticals and Intellectual Property An ongoing Brazil-US trade dispute at the WTO over Brazil’s… 1st May 2001 FAO IU REVISION STILL FAR FROM COMPLETION The Sixth Inter-sessional Contact Group Meeting on the Revision… 24th April 2001 DRUG COMPANIES DROP CASE AGAINST S. AFRICAN GOVERNMENT After a three-year battle, a group of pharmaceutical companies… 18th April 2001 WTO/WHO DRUGS WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON DIFFERENTIAL PRICING AND FINANCING A group of 80 experts from industrialised and developing countries… 6th March 2001 Judge’s Remarks Cast Doubt On Outcomes Of S. African Drugs Patent Case Proceedings began on Monday 5 March at the High Court of Pretoria… 20th February 2001 TRIPS, AIDS DRUGS AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Western governments, the WTO and pharmaceutical companies have… 5th December 2000 FAO EXPECTS REVISED IU BY NOVEMBER 2001 At the 119th UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Council… TRIPS COUNCIL DISCUSSES RELATIONSHIP WITH CBD The WTO Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property… 26th September 2000 WTO LOGJAMMED OVER TRIPS WTO Members continue to wrangle over the contentious issues of… 5th September 2000 FAO PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES NEGOTIATIONS COULD IMPACT TRIPS From 26-31 August, delegates from 36 countries and four intergovernmental… DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TACKLE TRIPS COMMITMENTS The next meeting of the WTO’s Council on Trade-Related… 18th July 2000 AIDS Conference Calls for Access to Generic AIDS Drugs Researchers, activists, representatives of pharmaceutical companies,… 4th July 2000 TRIPs Council Meeting Ends In Gridlock The WTO Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property… 28th March 2000 TRIPS MEETING LEAVES REVIEW QUESTIONS UNANSWERED At the year’s first meeting of the WTO’s Council… 29th February 2000 THAILAND WEIGHS OPTIONS FOR ESSENTIAL HIV MEDICINE Thailand could test the extent of US commitment to a more benign… 8th February 2000 DSB Rules On Generic Drugs A WTO Dispute Settlement Panel has issued a preliminary ruling… 31st December 1969 EU INITIATIVE SEEKS TO BREAK DEADLOCK IN TRIPS & HEALTH NEGOTIATIONS Following the breakdown of talks on paragraph 6 of the Declaration…

Bridges Weekly

21st May 2008
SUPACHAI TO UNDERTAKE CONSULTATIONS ON GIS At an informal heads of delegation meeting on 14 May, WTO Members…

19th March 2008
CALL FOR WORK ON EXCEPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS IN WIPO COPYRIGHT COMMITTEE Exceptions and limitations to copyright protection dominated…

12th March 2008
SLUGGISH START TO WIPO TALKS ON IMPLEMENTING DEVELOPMENT AGENDA RECOMMENDATIONS Progress was slow during the first meeting of the World Intellectual…

13th February 2008
BIOFUELS MAY BE INCREASING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, NEW STUDIES SUGGEST The growing popularity of biofuels may actually be hurting the…

19th September 2007
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TRIPS AMENDMENT VOTE POSTPONED ONCE AGAIN The European Parliament’s international…
KENYAN PARLIAMENT REJECTS PATENT LAW AMENDMENTS, PRESERVES TRIPS FLEXIBILITIES The Kenyan parliament last week rejected proposed amendments…

5th September 2007
NOVARTIS PATENT CHALLENGE DISMISSED IN INDIA Pharmaceutical giant Novartis saw its challenge to Indian patent…

25th July 2007
REVISED WHO PLAN FOR PHARMACEUTICAL R&D CALLED A ‘REASONABLE PLACE TO START The World Health Organization has released an updated version…

18th July 2007
WIPO COMMITTEE ON GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE EXTENDED ONCE MORE A World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) committee agreed…
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELAYS VOTE ON TRIPS AMENDMENT, PENDING NEW SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE DRUGS The European Parliament has delayed the ratification of an amendment…

11th July 2007
WIPO COMMITTEE ON GENETIC RESOURCES, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE INCONCLUSIVE THUS FAR After over six years of discussions, members of the World Intellectual…

27th June 2007
RATIFICATION OF TRIPS HEALTH AMENDMENT LANGUISHES, WITH FIVE MONTHS TO GO One and a half years after governments agreed on how to amend…

20th June 2007
WIPO MEMBERS AGREE ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA In the fourth and final session of the committee dealing with…
WIPO BROADCAST TREATY TALKS COLLAPSE Ten years of discussions on an international treaty to update…

14th June 2007
WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA COMMITTEE GETS TO GRIPS WITH TRICKY ISSUES A World Intellectual Property Organization committee charged…

23rd May 2007
WHO MEMBERS ADOPT RESOLUTION ON PHARMACEUTICAL INNOVATION Intellectual property issues were prominent at the World Health…

9th May 2007
BRAZIL ISSUES COMPULSORY LICENCE FOR AIDS DRUG Brazil issued a compulsory licence for the patented AIDS drug…

25th April 2007
WHO MEMBERS DIVIDED OVER PLAN FOR PROMOTING PHARMACEUTICAL INNOVATION The World Health Organization (WHO) last week made public member…
EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE IMAGINES INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CIRCA 2025 The European Patent Office (EPO) has published a report surveying…

14th March 2007
THAI GOVERNMENT EXPLAINS COMPULSORY LICENCE POLICY ON PATENTED DRUGS Thailand’s government on 8 March released a report elucidating…

10th March 2007
TRIPS COUNCIL DISCUSSES BIODIVERSITY, HEALTH IN INFORMAL MODE At the 8 March meeting of the WTO Council for Trade-related Aspects…

6th March 2007
Avance significativo en la Agenda del Desarrollo de la OMPI Delegados de 105 gobiernos lograron un avance significativo en…

28th February 2007
BREAKTHROUGH ON WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Delegates from 105 governments have made a breakthrough in negotiations…
No consensus on key issues in the trips council Members are debating whether to extend the higher level of geographical…

14th February 2007
MEMBERS PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF ON GIs, TRIPS-CBD - STILL STUCK WTO Members remain divided on how to address geographical indications…

5th February 2007
India’s Patent Act On Trial The challenge is significant on two counts. The key issue in…

1st February 2007
WHO ADDRESSES TRADE, HEALTH, IP, AND INNOVATION Issues related to trade, research and development, and intellectual…

31st January 2007
THAILAND AUTHORISES GENERIC PRODUCTION OF TWO MORE PATENTED DRUGS Thailand’s government has issued compulsory licences for…

24th January 2007
GOVERNMENTS REMAIN DIVIDED ON WIPO BROADCAST TREATY The future of a potential global treaty expanding the rights…

13th December 2006
WHO GROUP ON HEALTH, INNOVATION, AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY HOLDS FIRST MEETING Delegates from more than 100 member states of the World Health…

15th November 2006
THE DOHA DECLARATION ON TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH, FIVE YEARS ON Government officials, businesses and civil society groups alike…

8th November 2006
NEW FORUM HOLDS FIRST MEETING ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE Spam, cybercrime, online freedom of expression, security, multilingualism,…

6th October 2006
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PRESS FOR SPEEDIER WIPO TALKS ON GR, TK uring the annual General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property…

27th September 2006
WIPO GENERAL ASSEMBLY UNDERWAY The 33rd annual General Assembly (GA) of the World Intellectual…

20th September 2006
WIPO COMMITTEE APPROVES BROADCAST TREATY AMIDST DISAGREEMENT In spite of persistent differences over its content, a potential…

5th July 2006
WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA MEETING BREAKS DOWN OVER CHAIR’S TEXT Members of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)…

31st May 2006
WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS ON R&D, TRADE AND HEALTH World Health Organisation members have agreed to launch official…

24th May 2006
LATIN AMERICAN HEALTH MINISTERS STRESS LINKS BETWEEN IP AND HEALTH On 23 May, health ministers from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil,…

19th May 2006
TRANSFER AGREEMENT FOR GENETIC RESOURCES RECEIVES TENTATIVE SUPPORT Delegates at the second meeting of the Contact Group established…

10th May 2006
WIPO MOVES FORWARD ON BROADCASTING TREATY, WEBCASTING TALKS SPLIT OFF World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) members have…

26th April 2006
WIPO PATENT HARMONISATION TALKS ADRIFT AFTER MEETING COLLAPSES World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) talks on whether…

14th April 2006
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES PROPOSE DISCLOSURE AT WIPO PATENT MEETING A group of developing countries proposed at a 10-12 April informal…

5th April 2006
CRITICS QUESTION VALUE OF WHO COMMISSION REPORT ON INNOVATION, IP AND PUBLIC HEALTH After more than two years of work, the report produced by the…
NEW WIPO TRADEMARK LAW TREATY ADOPTED IN SINGAPORE Member states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation…

22nd March 2006
TRIPS: MEMBERS STILL SPLIT ON RELATIONSHIP WITH CBD; GI TALKS GOING NOWHERE WTO Members remain divided on how best to achieve the objectives…

1st March 2006
WIPO MEMBERS AGREE ON HOW TO STRUCTURE FUTURE TALKS ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA After a week’s talks, members of the World Intellectual…

8th February 2006
WTO PANEL PROVISIONALLY RULES AGAINST EU MORATORIUM ON BIOTECH APPROVALS A WTO dispute panel on 7 February issued a preliminary ruling…

25th January 2006
IP STANDARDS IN US-PERU FTA TO AFFECT TALKS WITH COLOMBIA AND ECUADOR? Stepping away from nearly one and a half years of negotiations…

30th November 2005
CHILE AND BRAZIL PROPOSE PUBLIC INTEREST EXEMPTIONS TO WIPO BROADCAST TREATY Brazil and Chile’s calls for a series of public interest…
EU AGREES TO NEW BANANA TARIFF OF EUR 176 PER TONNE EU member states overcame internal disagreement on 25 November…
LDCs GRANTED LIMITED EXTENSION FOR IMPLEMENTING TRIPS COMMITMENTS WTO Members agreed on 29 November to give least-developed countries…
TAIWAN ISSUES COMPULSORY LICENSE FOR TAMIFLU Taiwan has become the first country to issue a compulsory licence…
AG, IP HOBBLE ANDEAN-US FREE TRADE TALKS Nine days of free trade negotiations between the US and Colombia,…

23rd November 2005
WSIS MEETING CHANGES LITTLE ON INTERNET GOVERNANCE OR DIGITAL DIVIDE FUNDING The second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society…

2nd November 2005
GI TALKS GOING IN CIRCLES; EU MAKES GI EXTENSION HONG KONG PRIORITY The Special Session of the WTO Council on Trade-related Aspects…

19th October 2005
ADELPHI CHARTER LAUNCHED ON CREATIVITY, INNOVATION AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY A commission of artists, scientists, lawyers, politicians, academics…

12th October 2005
BRAZIL ASKS FOR CROSS-RETALIATION UNDER TRIPS, GATS IN COTTON DISPUTE WITH US Alleging that the US has missed the 21 September deadline to…

5th October 2005
WIPO MEMBERS CREATE NEW FORUM TO DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT AGENDA Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)…

15th June 2005
WIPO COMMITTEE FAILS TO MOVE ON TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE TREATY The eighth session of the World Intellectual Property Organisation…
COLOMBIA CANCELS PATENTS ON 250 PRODUCTS OF MULTINATIONALS On 8 June, the Colombian Regulatory Authority for Industry and…

8th June 2005
WIPO MEMBERS FAIL TO REACH AGREEMENT AT PATENT HARMONISATION MEETING Differences between developed and developing countries on how…
BRAZIL MOVES TO BREAK AIDS DRUG PATENTS; ANALYSTS MOOT PATENT-BREAKING AS WTO RETALIATION On 1 June 2005 the Justice and Constitution Commission in Brazil’s…

1st June 2005
WHO MEETING DISCUSSES RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE AND PUBLIC HEALTH On 27 May, fourteen countries presented a draft resolution on…

20th April 2005
DISCUSSIONS ON DEVELOPMENT AGENDA CONTINUE IN WIPO COMMITTEE fter three days of debate on how to integrate developmental concerns…
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CALLS ON STATES TO USE TRIPS FLEXIBILITIES The UN Commission on Human Rights has called on its 53 members…

13th April 2005
WIPO: INDIA REJECTS OUTCOME OF CASABLANCA PATENT HARMONISATION MEETING On 5 April Indian government circulated an informal note to Geneva-based…

23rd March 2005
INDIAN PARLIAMENT APPROVES CONTROVERSIAL PATENT BILL The Indian parliament has approved a controversial patent bill…

16th March 2005
TRIPS COUNCIL MEETING SUSPENDED IN EFFORT TO MEET PUBLIC HEALTH DEADLINE Public health and biodiversity issues were again the items sparking…
EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE UPHOLDS NEEM PATENT REVOCATION IN BIOPIRACY CASE In the first conclusion of a biopiracy case in its history, the…

9th March 2005
DEVELOPING COUNTRY GROUP OFFICIALLY REJECTS INFORMAL WIPO MEETING OUTCOME A group of developing countries has rejected the outcome of a…
SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES REJECT ‘TRIPS-PLUS’ DEMANDS IN FTA NEGOTIATION Southern African countries have rejected the European Free Trade…

23rd February 2005
GENERAL ASSEMBLY BYPASSED IN INFORMAL WIPO TALKS ON PATENT HARMONISATION At the invitation of World Intellectual Property Organisation…

2nd February 2005
US PRESSURES GUATEMALA TO STRENGTHEN DATA PROTECTION RULES The US government has threatened to delay congressional proceedings…

19th January 2005
INDIAN TRIPS-COMPLIANCE LEGISLATION UNDER FIRE A decree issued by the Indian government to bring the country…
INDIAN TRIPS-COMPLIANCE LEGISLATION UNDER FIRE A decree issued by the Indian government to bring the country…

8th December 2004
TRIPS COUNCIL CONSIDERS PUBLIC HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY Public health and biodiversity-related concerns emerged as major…

24th November 2004
INDIAN PATENT LAW CHANGES FACE RESISTANCE On 24 November, officials from the United Progressive Alliance…
INDIAN PATENT LAW CHANGES FACE RESISTANCE On 24 November, officials from the United Progressive Alliance…

19th November 2004
GOVERNMENTS MEET IN GENEVA TO DISCUSS WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA GOVERNMENTS MEET IN GENEVA TO DISCUSS WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA…

17th November 2004
EU COMMISSION ADOPTS NEW IP STRATEGY On 10 November, the European Commission adopted a strategy to…

10th November 2004
EU PROPOSES RULES ON GENERIC DRUGS FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES On 29 October, the European Commission proposed new regulations…
EC APPROVES ANOTHER GM MAIZE VARIETY On 26 October the EC approved Monsanto’s Roundup Ready…
REPORT ON GM MAIZE IN MEXICO MEETS CONTROVERSY On 8 October, the North American Commission for Environmental…

13th October 2004
CANADIAN DRUGS PATENT LAW FOR POOR COUNTRIES RELEASED FOR COMMENT On 2 October, Health Canada released for public comment regulations…

6th October 2004
MOVING FORWARD THE ‘DEVELOPMENT AGENDA’ IN WIPO In response to a proposal put forward by Brazil and Argentina,…
MOVING FORWARD THE ‘DEVELOPMENT AGENDA’ IN WIPO In response to a proposal put forward by Brazil and Argentina,…

29th September 2004
DECLARATION ON FUTURE OF WIPO URGES BALANCED APPROACH TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY A 13-14 September conference organised by the Transatlantic Consumer…
NO HEADWAY MADE ON GI REGISTER FOR WINES AND SPIRITS On 23 September, the special session of the Council for Trade-related…
BRAZIL SUBMITS PIRACY REPORT TO USTR TO RETAIN GSP STATUS In an attempt to avoid the potential withdrawal of US trade preferences,…

15th September 2004
FUTURE OF WIPO DISCUSSED AT GENEVA MEETING The Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue organised a two day meeting…
EXPERTS DEBATE LINKS BETWEEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND HUMAN RIGHTS On 14 September, a group of intellectual property experts convened…

8th September 2004
ZAMBIA TO MANUFACTURE GENERIC HIV/AIDS MEDICINES On 2 September Zambia declared HIV/AIDS a national emergency…

21st July 2004
DOHA ROUND: LAST-DITCH EFFORT TO FIND AGREEMENT ON PACKAGE DEAL UNDERWAY On 16 July, WTO Director-General Supachai Panitchpakdi and General…

14th July 2004
CONCERNS RAISED OVER ACCESS TO MEDICINES UNDER TRADE TREATIES While Geneva-based negotiators work around the clock to secure…

8th July 2004
CONCERNS RAISED AS FAO TREATY ENTERS INTO FORCE With the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for…

23rd June 2004
QUIET TRIPS COUNCIL FOCUSES ON HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY-RELATED ISSUES On 16 June trade delegates convened to continue their attempt…

22nd April 2004
TRIPS COUNCIL SCRUTINISES GI NEGOTIATING MANDATE The Council for Trade-related Aspects on Intellectual Property…

2nd February 2004
US QUIETLY PROMOTES PATENT HARMONISATION AT DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEETING Trade analysts are concerned that a number of industrialised…

26th November 2003
TRIPS COUNCIL SHOWS LITTLE PROGRESS ON HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY Discussions on public health at the 17-18 November meeting of…
TRIPS COUNCIL SHOWS LITTLE PROGRESS ON HEALTH AND BIODIVERSITY Discussions on public health at the 17-18 November meeting of…

15th October 2003
CANADA TO AMEND PATENT ACT, ALLOW GENERIC MEDICINE EXPORTS The Canadian government announced in late September that it would…

25th September 2003
INDIAN TRADEMARKS AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS LAWS ENTER INTO FORCE he Indian laws on trademarks and geographical indications entered…

4th September 2003
WTO MEMBERS REACH LAST-MINUTE DEAL ON TRIPS & HEALTH After a flurry of eleventh hour negotiations, WTO Members on…
WTO MEMBERS REACH LAST-MINUTE DEAL ON TRIPS & HEALTH After a flurry of eleventh hour negotiations, WTO Members on…

28th August 2003
GI DISCUSSION AT A STANDSTILL AS EU PRESENTS ITS PRODUCT LIST Countries have made no headway ahead of the Cancun Ministerial…

10th July 2003
TRIPS COUNCIL MAKES NO PROGRESS ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS At the special session of the Council for Trade-related Aspects…

3rd July 2003
US RUMOURED TO CONSIDER CHANGE IN TACTIC ON TRIPS & HEALTH According to trade sources, the US is considering changing its…

12th June 2003
BUSY TRIPS COUNCIL SESSION FOCUSES ON HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY, GIS AND S&D Meeting on 4-5 June and again briefly on 6 June, the regular…

4th June 2003
EU AGREES TIERED MEDICINE PRICING FOR POOR COUNTRIES European governments on 26 May adopted a regulation that aims…

7th May 2003
TRIPS COUNCIL: GI EXTENSION ISSUE CROPS UP IN NEGOTIATIONS ON MULTILATERAL SYSTEM During its special session from 29-30 April, the Council for…

2nd April 2003
GI NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESS IN INFORMAL MODE The Ambassador Eui-yong Chung (Korea), Chair of the Council for…

27th February 2003
TRIPs COUNCIL FOCUSES ON TECH TRANSFER AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS The Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property…

19th February 2003
NO COMPROMISE IN SIGHT ON TRIPS & HEALTH Discussions at the Tokyo ‘mini-Ministerial’ on 14-16…

12th February 2003
LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SAVE TRIPS & HEALTH DISCUSSIONS A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following…
LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SAVE TRIPS & HEALTH DISCUSSIONS A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following…

6th February 2003
TRIPS COUNCIL BACK AT ‘SQUARE ONE’ ON MEDICINES ISSUE The Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property…
TRIPS COUNCIL BACK AT ‘SQUARE ONE’ ON MEDICINES ISSUE The Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property…
LAST-MINUTE ATTEMPT TO SAVE TRIPS & HEALTH DISCUSSIONS A General Council meeting on 11 February was suspended following…

15th January 2003
EU INITIATIVE SEEKS TO BREAK DEADLOCK IN TRIPS & HEALTH NEGOTIATIONS Following the breakdown of talks on paragraph 6 of the Declaration…

2nd January 2003
WTO MEMBERS STILL BATTLING OVER TRIPS AND HEALTH As BRIDGES Weekly went to press, negotiations were still going…

12th December 2002
TRIPS AND HEALTH STILL BLOCKED AS DEADLINE NEARS Negotiations on paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPs…

28th November 2002
TRIPs COUNCIL: STILL NO SOLUTION ON MEDICINES IN SIGHT Informal discussions continued among heads of delegations on…

20th November 2002
INCHING TOWARDS COMPROMISE ON MEDICINES AFTER SYDNEY MINI-MINISTERIAL On 19 November, the Chairman of the WTO Council for Trade-related…
INCHING TOWARDS COMPROMISE ON MEDICINES AFTER SYDNEY MINI-MINISTERIAL On 19 November, the Chairman of the WTO Council for Trade-related…

25th September 2002
STILL NO MOVEMENT IN TRIPS COUNCIL ON HEALTH OR GIS Discussions on intellectual property rights and public health…
STILL NO MOVEMENT IN TRIPS COUNCIL ON HEALTH OR GIS Discussions on intellectual property rights and public health…

6th August 2002
‘BUSINESSLIKE’ TRIPS COUNCIL CONSIDERS OPTIONS FOR IMPROVING ACCESS TO MEDICINES WTO Members met for an informal session of the Council for Trade-…

31st July 2002
Granting of Basmati Patent To US Firm Raises Traditional Knowledge Concerns In an ongoing dispute at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)…

3rd July 2002
WTO MEMBERS DIVIDED OVER GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS The issue of geographical indications was discussed at both…
TRIPS COUNCIL AGREES ON EXTENSIONS FOR LDCS ON PHARMACEUTICAL PATENTS WTO Members at the 25-27 June meeting of the Council for Trade-related…

12th March 2002
DIVISIVE DEBATE OVER TRIPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH CONTINUES IN TRIPS COUNCIL Intellectual property rights (IPRs) and public health again divided…

24th February 2002
WTO STALEMATE PERSISTS OVER DEVELOPING COUNTRY IMPORTS OF GENERICS Meeting last week from 14-17 October, delegates from both Geneva-based…

15th November 2001
Comprehensive Trade Round Broadens Scope Of Discussions In The WTO After a final marathon of round-the-clock…
EC-ACP Cotonou Waiver Finally Granted On the sidelines of the WTO Ministerial Conference, WTO Members…
NGOs Pursue New Avenues To Get Their Voice To The Table As the World Forum on the WTO, hosted in Beirut, Lebanon, came…
TRIPs-Public Health Accord Seen As Bright Spot By Civil Society One of the most hard-fought battles pitting NGOs and developing…

6th November 2001
WTO Protests Mushrooming Around The Globe Given the difficulties in voicing discontent with the possible…
Ministerial Texts Make Their Way To Doha, But Great Disparities Remain Ministerial Texts Make Their Way To Doha, But Great Disparities…
Last-Minute Arrangements For NGOs At a briefing session for non-governmental organisations (NGOs)…

30th October 2001
Draft Declaration On TRIPs And Health Highlights Divisions In The WTO The WTO draft Declaration on intellectual property rights (IPRs)…
Draft Declaration On TRIPs And Health Highlights Divisions In The WTO The WTO draft Declaration on intellectual property rights (IPRs)…
New Ministerial Text To Hand Ministers A Challenge In Doha WTO General Council Chair Stuart Harbinson on 27 October released…
Draft Declaration On TRIPs And Health Highlights Divisions In The WTO The WTO draft Declaration on intellectual property rights (IPRs)…
New Implementation Draft - Another Round For Gains Or Grounds To Refrain [Note: all relevant Ministerial texts discussed in this article…
Civil Society In Doha: Still Fewer Expected To Attend On 24 October 2001, the process of accreditation for NGOs to…

23rd October 2001
Anthrax Scare Draws New Focus On IPRs & Access To Medicines The link between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and access…
Full Steam Ahead For Doha As Prep Talks Refine Ministerial Text Following renewed commitments by the US over the weekend, the…
Anthrax Scare Draws New Focus On IPRs & Access To Medicines The link between intellectual property rights (IPRs) and access…
WTO Heads Of Delegations Meet On Developing Country Concerns On Friday 19 October, WTO Members convened for an informal Heads…

16th October 2001
Singapore ‘Mini-Ministerial’ Moves Doha Agenda Forward Following up after a similar meeting in Mexico in August (see…

9th October 2001
Efforts Acknowledged, But Implementation Menu Far From Fulfilling While WTO Members expressed appreciation for the efforts of General…
Agriculture And Environment Polarise Ministerial Process WTO Members have experienced an eventful week since a 3 October…

2nd October 2001
Sustainable Development Lacking In Draft Declaration As BRIDGES Weekly went to press, WTO Members were busy deliberating…
Implementation - Finding New Ground Or Grounding To A Halt? Implementation - Finding New Ground Or Grounding To A Halt? On…
‘Shadow Boxing’ on Agriculture Negotiations At WTO Continues During the 24-28 September sessions of the WTO Committee on Agriculture,…

25th September 2001
WTO Pursues Discussion On IPRs And Access To Medicines Repeating the scenario of their June meeting on access to essential…
Implementation Becoming Lynchpin Of Ministerial Process Implementation Becoming Lynchpin Of Ministerial Process At a…
African Ministers Convene On Trade Priorities In Preparation For Doha The Fourth Ordinary Session of the Organization of African Unity…

18th September 2001
EC Shows Improved Understanding Of Asian Developing Countries’ Concerns At an 11 September meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, trade ministers…
Speculation Emerges On Possible Trade Repercussions Of US Attacks Speaking at a news conference last Friday, WTO Director-General…

11th September 2001
Little Progress In Doha Preparations A number of recent trade meetings, including a brief informal…
Civil Society In Doha: Few Into The Glass Building, None Outside It On 10 August, WTO Director General Mike Moore sent a letter to…

31st July 2001
No Progress On Doha Agenda At WTO’s ‘Reality Check At a much-awaited informal meeting of the WTO General Council…
LDCs Say ‘Not Ready’ For New Round Trade ministers from the 49 Least-Developed Countries (LDCs)…
Agriculture: EC Wants Food Safety In Negotiations Continuing their informal discussions at the Committee on Agriculture…

10th July 2001
NGOs Air Concerns On Trading System At WTO Symposium NGOs Air Concerns On Trading System At WTO Symposium IAt a 6-7…

3rd July 2001
LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL FOR FAO IU REVISION After eight years of negotiations, the revision of the International…

26th June 2001
BRAZIL-US REACH AGREEMENT IN IPR DISPUTE The US on 25 June announced that it would withdraw its controversial…
WTO LOOKS AT IPR FLEXIBILITY IN ACCESS TO MEDICINES In what Zimbabwean Ambassador and Chairman of the WTO Council…

19th June 2001
IPRs For Development Take Centre Stage At WTO At a forthcoming 18-22 June meeting of the WTO Council for Trade-…

8th May 2001
US-Brazil War Of Words Over Pharmaceuticals and Intellectual Property An ongoing Brazil-US trade dispute at the WTO over Brazil’s…

1st May 2001
FAO IU REVISION STILL FAR FROM COMPLETION The Sixth Inter-sessional Contact Group Meeting on the Revision…

24th April 2001
DRUG COMPANIES DROP CASE AGAINST S. AFRICAN GOVERNMENT After a three-year battle, a group of pharmaceutical companies…

18th April 2001
WTO/WHO DRUGS WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON DIFFERENTIAL PRICING AND FINANCING A group of 80 experts from industrialised and developing countries…

6th March 2001
Judge’s Remarks Cast Doubt On Outcomes Of S. African Drugs Patent Case Proceedings began on Monday 5 March at the High Court of Pretoria…

20th February 2001
TRIPS, AIDS DRUGS AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Western governments, the WTO and pharmaceutical companies have…

5th December 2000
FAO EXPECTS REVISED IU BY NOVEMBER 2001 At the 119th UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Council…
TRIPS COUNCIL DISCUSSES RELATIONSHIP WITH CBD The WTO Council on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property…

26th September 2000
WTO LOGJAMMED OVER TRIPS WTO Members continue to wrangle over the contentious issues of…

5th September 2000
FAO PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES NEGOTIATIONS COULD IMPACT TRIPS From 26-31 August, delegates from 36 countries and four intergovernmental…
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TACKLE TRIPS COMMITMENTS The next meeting of the WTO’s Council on Trade-Related…

18th July 2000
AIDS Conference Calls for Access to Generic AIDS Drugs Researchers, activists, representatives of pharmaceutical companies,…

4th July 2000
TRIPs Council Meeting Ends In Gridlock The WTO Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property…

28th March 2000
TRIPS MEETING LEAVES REVIEW QUESTIONS UNANSWERED At the year’s first meeting of the WTO’s Council…

29th February 2000
THAILAND WEIGHS OPTIONS FOR ESSENTIAL HIV MEDICINE Thailand could test the extent of US commitment to a more benign…

8th February 2000
DSB Rules On Generic Drugs A WTO Dispute Settlement Panel has issued a preliminary ruling…

31st December 1969
EU INITIATIVE SEEKS TO BREAK DEADLOCK IN TRIPS & HEALTH NEGOTIATIONS Following the breakdown of talks on paragraph 6 of the Declaration…

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