WIPO Secretariat Report on Limitations and Exceptions at SCCR 40

Discussions, or rather statements on limitations and exceptions started with the WIPO Secretariat’s report on regional seminars and an international conference that took place in 2019. See Documents: Report on Regional Seminars and International Conference (SCCR/40/2) (available in six languages);… Continue Reading

U.S. Government funding of Lilly’s LY-CoV555 antibody against COVID-19

Lilly recently requested an emergency use authorization for LY-CoV555, an antibody treatment candidate against COVID-19. Like other COVID-19 candidates, the discovery of LY-CoV555 was heavily supported by the U.S. government. The government of Canada has also awarded millions to manufacture… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (October 2020): European Union dismisses concerns that IPRs are a barrier to COVID-19 medicines and technologies

On Friday, 16 October 2020, the European Union provided the following perspectives during a three hour debate on the proposed waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19 co-sponsored by Eswatini, Kenya,… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (October 2020): Hungary answers queries posed by South Africa regarding Hungarian compulsory licensing provisions

At the October 2020 session of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council, under agenda item 1, IP measures in the context of COVID-19, the European Union read out Hungary’s detailed responses to questions posed in July 2020 (at the… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (October 2020): South Africa issues clarion call urging support for TRIPS waiver proposal

On Friday, 16 October 2020, members of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) TRIPS Council held a three hour debate on the proposal (IP/C/W/669) first tabled by India and South Africa for a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council: India and South Africa submit draft decision text on a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19.

On Friday, 2 October 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) published a joint submission by India and South Africa on a draft decision text to the WTO TRIPS Council on a waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for… Continue Reading

China blocks Wikimedia Foundation’s application to become an observer at WIPO

On Wednesday, 23 September 2020, China blocked Wikimedia Foundation’s application to become an observer at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). At this week’s General Assembly, the WIPO was poised to accept the applications of thirteen organization including Wikimedia Foundation… Continue Reading