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IPR: Deprive Doha of all substance
How through bilateral agreements EFTA states restrict access to medicines
IPR: “TRIPS-plus” through EFTA’s back door (updated)
How Free Trade Agreements concluded with EFTA-States impose much stronger rules on Developing Countries for IPRs on life than the WTO
EU takes piracy fight to non-EU countries
The European Commission yesterday launched a new campaign to tackle IPR deficiencies in countries outside the European Union.
Bilateral agreements and a TRIPS-plus world: the Chile-US FTA
In these issues papers, the author examines a subject of importance in the developing international intellectual property regime and highlights the key issues arising. The topics have been chosen following consultations with negotiators from developing countries and respond to their concerns.
EU demands improved intellectual property protection from Israel
The European Commission has decided to increase pressure on Israel to adopt more stringent intellectual property protection for the benefit of EU pharmaceutical companies.
Farmers risk violating US patents
Thai farmers risk being held liable for patent violations under patent application rights for genetically modified (GM) papaya being considered by American biotechnologists working with Thai scientists, experts said yesterday.
The work of USTR on intellectual property
In this work, we consult closely with Congress on our priorities and strategies; we use domestic trade law; regional initiatives in Europe, Asia (APEC), Latin America (FTAA) and Africa; existing institutions, notably the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Selling off a slice of our country
The funny thing about the free trade agreement with the United States is that Australians and Americans see it as being about completely different things. Australia’s businesspeople see it as about eliminating the barriers to exports and imports between the two countries, which they regard as a good thing.
Australian Linux bodies blast US free-trade deal
Australia’s national open source industry body, OSIA (Open Source Industry Australia), and Linux Australia have spoken out about their concerns over the proposed Australian-US Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), warning that the legal framework of the intellectual property clauses will put the entire Australian software development industry at risk.
FTA set to increase medicine prices
Kerryn Williams spoke to David Henry, clinical pharmacology professor at Newcastle University and former Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee member, about how the proposed US-Australia Free Trade Agreement will undermine the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and increase the price of medicine.
How US is turning AIDS into big business
The reason for President Museveni’s renewed vigour to support US ideologies in the battle against HIV/Aids is becoming clearer after Bangkok, Thailand.
In New Trade Pacts, U.S. Seeks To Limit Reach of Generic Drugs
As public-health groups urge wider use of generic drugs to lower the cost of treating AIDS and other diseases in developing countries, U.S. trade negotiators — prodded by the drug industry — are taking the opposite stance in new trade pacts, seeking to strengthen protections for costlier brand-name drugs.
US and France clash over cheap Aids drugs
The US and France clashed on Tuesday over allegations by President Jacques Chirac that Washington was seeking to use bilateral trade agreements to reduce developing countries’ access to cheap medicines for diseases such as HIV/Aids.
The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, Addendum: Mission to WTO
The Special Rapporteur recommends that States be cautious about enacting “TRIPS plus” legislation without first understanding the impact of such legislation on the protection of human rights, including the right to health. Equally, wealthy countries should not pressure a developing country to implement “TRIPS plus” legislation, unless reliable evidence confirms that such legislation will enhance enjoyment of the right to health in the developing country.
IIPA on US-Singapore FTA
Testimony of Eric H. Smith President International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA)
Expanding Intellectual Property’s Empire: The Role of FTAs
Intellectual property rights were important to chemical firms in nineteenth century Europe and to US and European pharmaceutical companies in the twentieth century. The relationship was one of mutual importance. Because these companies wanted intellectual property rights, especially patents they took an interest in lobbying governments on their design.
TRIPS-plus through EFTA’s backdoor
The Free Trade Agreements concluded between the four member states of the European Free Trade Association ¬(EFTA) - Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein - and a number of developing countries contain provisions on the protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) which go far beyond the obligations already imposed on these countries in the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
TRIPS-plus must stop
Last month, GRAIN issued an open letter to Pascal Lamy, the chief of trade policy at the European Commission. In it, we disputed Mr Lamy’s public relations efforts aimed at trying to convince the world that the EU champions the rights of Third World farmers to save seeds.
Regional and bilateral treaties and a TRIPS-plus world: the Free Trade Area of the Americas
In these issues papers, authors are invited to examine a subject of importance in the developing international intellectual property regime and highlight key issues they see arising. The topics have been chosen following consultations with negotiators from developing countries, and respond to their concerns.
Bilateralism in intellectual property
This paper examines the way in which bilateral trade negotiations (Bilateral Investment Treaties and Bilateral Intellectual Property Agreements) are being used by the USA and others to build more extensive protection for intellectual property than that set out in the WTO TRIPS Agreement.