INSouth

Xuan Li, Coordinator, IAKP, South Centre

The Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) of the South Centre launched a new monthly forum on Intellectual Property (IP) Negotiation Update with the delegates of the Permanent Missions of the Member States of the Group of 77 and China. The inaugural forum was organized at the South Centre on 31 March, 2009 at 3 P.M.

At the forum, Dr. Xuan Li – Coordinator, IAKP provided an update on the negotiations held in March in the WTO TRIPS Council and panel report of US-China case on protection and enforcement of IPR, the discussions on IP enforcement at the WCO, the negotiations at the WIPO SCP, the implications of IPRs in the climate change negotiations at UNFCCC. She also briefed the delegates about the implications of IPRs for developing countries with reference to the global financial crisis. Mr. Nirmalya Syam from IAKP briefed the delegates about the scope of using TRIPS flexibilities for facilitating access to technology. Mr. Vice Yu – Coordinator, Global Governance and Development Programme (GGDP) briefed the delegates about the proposal from G77 plus China at the UNFCCC for a Technology Mechanism and the scope of South-South cooperation for development, transfer and diffusion of technology necessary for adaptation and mitigation efforts against climate change. The presentations were followed by productive discussions among delegates.