South Africa’s opening statement to WIPO SCCR 20

On 21 June, 2010, South Africa made the following general statement to the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) which covered the protection of broadcasting organizations, a treaty for audiovisual performances and on limitations on exceptions. South Africa underscored that the SCCR’s work on limitations and exceptions be prioritized and welcomed the ongoing work of WIPO in ‘regard to the matter of access for the visually impaired’. South Africa emphasized that

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Asian Group’s opening statement at WIPO’s Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights

On 21 June, 2010, Thailand, on behalf of the Asian Group, a regional grouping at WIPO which includes Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Yemen made the following opening statement at the 20 Continue Reading

Anne Marie Worning appointed as new acting head of WHO’s team on public health, innovation and intellectual property

On 4 June 2010, Dr. Margaret Chan (Director General, World Health Organization) announced Dr. Anne Marie Worning as ‘acting Director, Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (PHI)’. According to the WHO website,

Dr Anne Marie Worning, a Danish national, is the Executive Director of the Director-General’s Office since April 2009.

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Program for WTO TRIPS Council (June 8-9) including discussion on Paragraph 6 implementation and TRIPS plus enforcement trends

The following WTO aerogram contains the agenda for the upcoming WTO Council for TRIPS meeting to be held in Geneva from 8 June 2010 to 9 June 2010. Paragraph 2 and agenda items l and m will be of interest to readers of this blog. It should be noted that in the original document, the text is capitalized.

WTO/AIR/3562/Rev. 1

1. The next meeting of the Council for TRIPS will be held in the Center William Rappard on 8-9 June 2010. The meeting will start at 11 A.M. Tuesday, 8 June.

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WTO TRIPS Council (June 8-9) to deliberate on Paragraph 6 implementation and TRIPS plus enforcement measures

The upcoming WTO Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Council) meets on 8-9 June 2010 (next Tuesday and Wednesday); Martin Glass (Hong Kong) is the current chair of the TRIPS Council. Access to attend WTO TRIPS Council meetings is only granted to WTO Members and organizations with observer status to the TRIPS Council (such as the World Health Organization); consequently, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are not permitted to observe the proceedings of the TRIPS Council. Continue Reading

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Response of Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and Paraguay to US proposal at WIPO open-consultations

Open-ended consultations on copyright limitations and exceptions for persons with print disabilities
Geneva, May 27, 2010

Mr. Chairman,

Yesterday, during the first round of the consultations, Brazil recalled the reasons why there is an urgent need for a treaty on Improved Access for Blind, Visually Impaired and other Reading Disabled Persons. As civil society representatives were not present yesterday, I will recall some of the main points Brazil holds dear in these discussions.

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Global Health Progress/IFPMA fete African health ministers in Geneva on public private partnerships

On 19 May 2010, Global Health Progress (GHP) and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) hosted a luncheon at the Vieux Bois in Geneva on the margins of the 63rd World Health Assembly for a targeted audience of over 90 persons including Ministers of Health, Ambassadors and senior officials from the Africa. Continue Reading

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Launch of 2.3(c) Committee: Salle XXV (Palais des Nations): May 19, 13:00 to 14:30

On Wednesday, 19 May 2010, the launch of the 2.3(c) Committee will take place at Room XXV of the Palais de Nations from 13:00 to 14:30. Element 2.3(c) of the WHO Global Strategy on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property states:

encourage further exploratory discussions on the utility of possible instruments or mechanisms for essential health and biomedical R&D, including inter alia, an essential health and biomedical R&D treaty

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