Author: Thiru

On 8 July 2014, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Tuberculosis (APPGTB) released a seminal report entitled, “Dying for a Cure: Research and Development for Global Health.” The APPGTB is co-chaired by Andrew George MP (St Ives, Liberal Democrat), Rt Hon Nick Herbert MP (Arundel and South Downs, Conservative) and Virendra Sharma MP (Ealing Southall, Continue Reading →

On 28 October 2014, the World Trade Organization (WTO) will host the inaugural WTO Innovation Fair which will “feature a diverse array of creators and inventors including individuals and organizations from around the globe and will serve as a platform for exchange of information, introduction of new technologies and advancing the understanding of the innovation lifecycle – from research and development, to financing and commercialization.” (Source: Website of the Permanent Mission Continue Reading →

On 9 July 2014, Kenya, on behalf of the African Group, delivered the following closing statement articulating its view that substantial progress had been made in text-based negotiations on genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore for the WIPO General Assembly in September 2014 to take a decision to convene a Diplomatic Conference in November 2015. Continue Reading →

*The author thanks KEI intern (Anelise Rosa) for her comprehensive notes on the IGC deliberations.

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The WIPO Intergovernmental Committee on Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC/GRTKF) is meeting from 7 July 2014 to 9 July 2014. Pursuant to the mandate of the WIPO General Assembly decision in 2013, the Committee is pursuing text-based negotiations with the objective of reaching an agreement on a text(s) of an international legal instrument(s) which will ensure the effective protection of genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. Continue Reading →