The first session of the 2015 World Trade Organization’s TRIPS Council takes place from 24 February 2015 to 25 February 2015. Like clockwork, the United States has tabled the inclusion of an additional item on Intellectual Property and Innovation. This marks the 8th time since November 2012 that the United States has submitted the inclusion of an additional agenda item to the TRIPS Council relating to intellectual property or innovation.
Although each request by the United States, is for a standalone agenda item, in effect, the United States has created a de facto permanent agenda item on innovation and intellectual property at the WTO TRIPS Council. For the February 2015 session, the United States and Norway have submitted a written request for the inclusion of the topic, “Intellectual Property and Innovation: Women And Innovation.”
WTO airgram (WTO/AIR/IP/1) contains the agenda for the February 2015 TRIPS Council session. It should be noted that WTO Members have until 12 February 2015 to propose additional items for consideration by the February 2015 session of the TRIPS Council.
WTO/AIR/IP/1 30 JANUARY 2015
SUBJECT: COUNCIL FOR TRIPS
THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR TRIPS WILL BE HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD ON 24-25 FEBRUARY 2015. THE MEETING WILL START AT 10 A.M. ON TUESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY.THE UNITED STATES AND NORWAY HAVE MADE A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR AN ITEM TO BE PLACED ON THE PROPOSED AGENDA (LISTED AS ITEM 11). IN LIGHT OF THIS REQUEST, THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE PROPOSED FOR THE AGENDA:
1. NOTIFICATIONS UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT
2. REVIEWS OF NATIONAL IMPLEMENTING LEGISLATION
3. REVIEW OF THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 27.3(B)
4. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND THE
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
5. PROTECTION OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE
6. NON-VIOLATION AND SITUATION COMPLAINTS
7. REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 71.1
8. REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE SECTION ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS UNDER ARTICLE 24.2
9. FOLLOW-UP TO THE TWELFTH ANNUAL REVIEW UNDER PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE DECISION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 OFTHE TRIPS AGREEMENT
10. TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND CAPACITY-BUILDING
11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND INNOVATION: WOMEN AND INNOVATION
12. INFORMATION ON RELEVANT DEVELOPMENTS ELSEWHERE IN THE WTO
13. OBSERVER STATUS FOR INTERNATIONAL INTERGOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS
14. ANNUAL REPORT
15. OTHER BUSINESSIT IS RECALLED THAT PARAGRAPH 19 OF THE DOHA MINISTERIAL DECLARATION PROVIDES THAT THE COUNCIL, IN UNDERTAKING THE WORK PROVIDED FOR IN THAT PARAGRAPH, SHALL BE GUIDED BY THE OBJECTIVES AND PRINCIPLES SET OUT IN ARTICLES 7 AND 8 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT AND SHALL TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT THE DEVELOPMENT DIMENSION.
ANY MEMBER WISHING AN ADDITIONAL ITEM TO BE PLACED ON THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS INVITED TO INFORM THE SECRETARIAT NO LATER THAN BY 12 FEBRUARY 2015 (COB) SO THAT A REVISED AIRGRAM CAN BE ISSUED TEN CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING.
MEMBERS OF THE WTO, OTHER GOVERNMENTS WITH OBSERVER STATUS AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS WITH OBSERVER STATUS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM THE SECRETARIAT OF THE NAMES OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
ROBERTO AZEVÊDO