The negotiations on the development agenda text have progressed, and as of last evening, it appears as though the term “access to knowledge” is now without brackets. The relevant paragraph now reads as follows:
“To initiate discussions on how, within WIPO’s mandate, to further facilitate access to knowledge and technology for developing countries and LDCs to foster creativity and innovation and to strengthen such existing activities within WIPO.”
Why are there brackets on A2K?
Paragraph 3 of Cluster B reads:
3. To discuss possible new initatives and strengthen existing mechanisms within WIPO to facilitate [access to knowledge] and technology for developing countries and LDCs and to foster creativity and innovation within WIPO’s mandate.
I talked with Canada during to break, to see where they stood. I can report that Canada was completely negative about removing the brackets from [access to knowledge].
The Algerian coordinator of the African Group just outlined the state of play on the language concerning access to knowledge.
As reported previously, the language of paragraph 3 of Cluster B reads:
3. To discuss possible new initatives and strengthen existing mechanisms within WIPO to facilitate [access to knowledge] and technology for developing countries and LDCs and to foster creativity and innovation within WIPO’s mandate.
The draft text on issues related to norm-setting, flexibilities, public policy and the public domain (Cluster B) is out.
Paragraph 3 reads:
3. To discuss possible new initatives and strengthen existing mechanisms within WIPO to facilitate [access to knowledge] and technology for developing countries and LDCs and to foster creativity and innovation within WIPO’s mandate.
The first day of informals at the Development Agenda meeting this week concluded at around 7:10 PM. Cluster A on Technical Assistance and Capacity Building was discussed. Early reports indicate good progress was made (on the 4 paragraphs of agreed text contained in the Cluster A recommendations) but the negotiations on Cluster A have not yet been concluded.
The future of the WIPO Development Agenda enters a crucial phase this week as WIPO Member States meet at the fourth session of the Provisional Committee on Proposals Related to a WIPO Development Agenda (PCDA). Continue Reading
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