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intellectual property

Indonesia and RCEP: Beware the public health risks
26-Nov-2018 The Diplomat
Proposals from Japan and South Korea would require patent law changes in several RCEP countries, including Indonesia.
Switzerland should stop pushing for TRIPS-plus measures in trade agreement with Indonesia
12-Nov-2018 Public Eye
Swiss and Norwegians civil society groups addressed their serious concerns over TRIPS-plus provisions being included in the trade agreement under negotiation between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Indonesia.
RCEP and affordable medicines: Civil society reaches out to Minister of Commerce Suresh Prabhu
12-Nov-2018 Don’t trade our lives away
Civil society organisations, patient groups and health activists have been concerned about intellectual property provisions being discussed in RCEP which undermine access to medicines and affordable treatment for patients
Indonesia-EFTA CEPA TRIPS-plus, threat for access to medicines and the right to health of millions of people in Indonesia
8-Nov-2018 IGJ
In many countries, the implementation of the TRIPS-plus measures has significantly increased the cost of medicines.
Drugs costs impact health
8-Nov-2018 The Guardian.pe.ca
Canada’s negotiators extended data protection on biologics without knowing impact on prices.
UPOV 91 and trade agreements: Compromising farmers’ right to save and sell seeds
7-Nov-2018 Both Ends
Increased effort to include references to UPOV 91 in EU trade agreements impose intellectual property rights on seeds, which can restrict the farmers’ right to save and re-use seeds and undermine local seed systems
Trade and patent changes could increase healthcare costs by $100bn, CPHI annual report warns
9-Oct-2018 European Pharmaceutical Manufacturer
Patients may need to wait an extra five or 10 years to access generic medicines, which could raise healthcare costs by as $100 billion over the next five years, according to the latest CPhI annual report
Canada ’caved’ on intellectual property provisions in USMCA trade deal, experts say
5-Oct-2018 Financial Post
Experts are fuming, saying USMCA will hamper Canada’s innovation economy and hike costs to the health care system over patented drugs.
US-Canada-Mexico trade agreement provisions on injunctions and damages
2-Oct-2018 Knowledge Ecology International
The damages provisions in the new trade agreement are dangerous, and create a norm that is in conflict with national laws.
Despite seed concerns, CPTPP study to proceed
1-Oct-2018 Bangkok Post
Thai farmers and civil society organisations vented their concerns about the impact of the new pact’s IP chapter that prevents them from saving and reusing seeds that contain patented plant material.
Un accord de libre-échange Suisse-Indonésie serait à bout touchant
21-Sep-2018 Le Temps
L’Indonésie n’exige plus l’abolition de droits de douane à l’importation de son huile de palme, produit contesté en Suisse, et accepte des règles strictes en matière de propriété intellectuelle.
Extended monopolies on biologic drugs – A warning to developing countries
12-Sep-2018 IP Watch
The United States has throughout history been the principal demandeur of maximalist intellectual property, backed by a powerful pharmaceutical lobby.
RCEP talks: India manages major breakthrough
5-Sep-2018 Financial Express
New Delhi won’t not take additional commitment on intellectual property rights beyond the TRIPS agreement it has already accepted at the WTO; investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism only for limited sectors.
NAFTA deal close, but obstacles remain
31-Aug-2018 RFI
US and Canada officials continue to meet but there are three key issues to resolve: dairy, intellectual property, dispute settlement.
New NAFTA could include tough intellectual property laws that Canada fought against in TPP
29-Aug-2018 Global News
The new trade deal reached between the US and Mexico contains a myriad of rules and tariffs, and among them include tougher rules on copyright and intellectual property.
Trade agreements privatising biodiversity outside the WTO: 2018 update
28-Aug-2018 GRAIN
FTAs often oblige countries to adopt or implement the UPOV convention, what some call "Monsanto laws".
Italy threatens to bring down EU-Canada free trade deal
31-Jul-2018 WSJ
Citing farmers’ complaints, antiestablishment government vows to seek parliamentary veto, which would annul pact for all partners
Trade deals putting health at risk
20-Jul-2018 Bangkok Post
A leaked draft of the negotiating text has revealed some proposed harmful intellectual property provisions that could undermine access to price-lowering, generic medicines, and thus, life-saving treatment to millions of people.
The myth behind health and trade agreements – Q&A with Othoman Mellouk
20-Jun-2018 IP Watch
Dr Othoman Mellouk is a Moroccan treatment advocate who has been working on intellectual property and access to medicines for more than a decade.
Tokyo approves bill in next step toward enactment of new Trans-Pacific Partnership
13-Jun-2018 The Japan Times
Japan’s bicameral legislature, The Diet has approved a bill on to ratify the 11-country Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.