On 30 July 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened a formal meeting of the TRIPS Council. The TRIPS Council held discussions on two COVID-19 related topics: agenda item 3 on IP Measures in the Context of COVID-19 and agenda… Continue Reading
Below is a letter from several individuals and groups, asking that NIAID not grant exclusive rights in a HIV patent license for South Africa, India and other low income countries. (PDF version here) The license is to RNAceuticals, a firm… Continue Reading
On Friday, 17 July 2020, South Africa submitted a paper to the World Trade Organization (WTO) TRIPS Council entitled, Intellectual Property and the Public Interest: Beyond Access to Medicines and Medical Technologies Towards a More Holistic Approach To TRIPS Flexibilities.… Continue Reading
On 14 May 2020, Roberto Azevêdo, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced he would step down from his post as Director-General of the organization on 31 August 2020; to say this news was a surprise is an understatement… Continue Reading
On Friday, 10 July 2020, the European Parliament adopted a resolution entitled, The EU’s public health strategy post-COVID-19, by 526 votes to 105 and 50 abstentions. This resolution paves the way for the creation of a European Health Union and… Continue Reading
Below is a link to an essay on the use of the phrase “global public goods”. The essay focuses on the three papers Paul Samuelson wrote in the 1950s that are often used, and misused, to define public goods. Samuelson’s… Continue Reading
The second session of the WIPO Conversation on IP and AI is being held over three days from July 7 to 9, 2020. WIPO’s web page on the event is here. I had submitted comments earlier to both WIPO and… Continue Reading
Other Transaction Agreements: Government Contracts that May Eliminate Protections for the Public on Pricing, Access and Competition, Including in Connection with COVID-19 KEI Briefing Note 2020:3 June 29, 2020 (revision of June 24 version) Kathryn Ardizzone James Love The most… Continue Reading
On Friday, 19 June 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened an informal virtual Open-ended Meeting of the TRIPS Council. . The following statements were delivered by South Africa at the virtual open-ended informal meeting of the TRIPS Council. In… Continue Reading
On 14 May 2020, Bernd Lange, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) wrote a letter to Phil Hogan (Commissioner for Trade, European Commission) on the “commercial aspects of intellectual property rights for medical products in the… Continue Reading