infoJustice

Communia Association Copyright Directive Webinars

[Natalia Mileszyk] The process of implementation of the new Copyright Directive is speeding up in various countries (see our Implementation Tracker). Therefore, COMMUNIA has decided to organize a series of webinars aimed at explaining the different provisions of the new Copyright Directive and making suggestions on what to advocate for during the implementation process of those provisions at the national level, to expand and strengthen user rights. The Copyright Directive Webinars are aimed at local advocates and national policymakers and will be conducted by COMMUNIA members and experts that were involved in preparing our Implementation Guidelines. We will hold four webinars of one hour each, as follows.

US-, China- and EU-First Nationalism and COVID-19 Technology Hoarding Push the Rest of the World to the End of the Line

[Brook Baker] With the world racing to find new vaccines and therapies to respond to the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, the world’s biggest economies are pursuing nationalistic policies, racing to the front of the line with sweetheart deals to fund research and development in exchange for preferential access to life-saving health products. These same countries (along with others) have also imposed selfish and unnecessary export controls limiting supply of needed health supplies to other countries.[1] This unbridled nationalism, interlinked with a broken, profit-driven pharmaceutical system risks obstructing access to life-saving medicines worldwide. This should be a moment for transformative, systemic change, but instead of an innovative response and true global solidarity we’re seeing the same old business-as-usual.

Articles 7 and 8 as the basis for interpretation of the TRIPS Agreement

[Thamara Romero] Abstract: Articles 7 and 8 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) play a central role in assuring the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) the right to implement public health measures. The Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health is also an important element for the interpretation of any provision of the TRIPS Agreement that may have public health implications. The most recent and prominent example of the use of articles 7 and 8 for interpretation in WTO law can be found in the WTO Panel decision of 2018 on the Australia – Tobacco Plain Packaging dispute.