Advocating for a world where intellectual
property law serves the public interest.

WIPO Delegates Object Facilitators TK and TCE’s Texts at IGC WIPO 49th

By Andres Izquierdo and Katie McGee The 49th session of WIPO’s Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) concluded with strong debates and unresolved issues dominating the discussions related to the draft texts on traditional knowledge (TK) and traditional cultural expressions (TCEs). Despite efforts to reconcile diverging views, the session highlighted deep-seated challenges in achieving consensus on critical issues. […]

Advancing Global Development Through Intellectual Property: Highlights from WIPO’s CDIP 33rd Session – Country Statements

By Andrés Izquierdo The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently hosted another session of its Committee on Development and Intellectual Property (CDIP). Delegations from around the globe shared insights on the critical role of intellectual property (IP) in fostering development. These insights highlight the collective commitment to aligning IP with sustainable development goals. On […]

Copyright, Cultural Rights and Research in the “Salvador da Bahia Declaration of the G20 Ministers of Culture”

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-92px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”] Allan Rocha de Souza [1] and Luca Schirru [2] On November 18 and 19, the G20 highest representatives met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when they issued the 2024 conclusive document of […]

What Project 2025 Says About Intellectual Property Policy in the Second Trump Administration

By Jonathan Band Policybandwidth During the presidential campaign, the Heritage Foundation organized Project 2025, which produced a 925-page plan for transforming the federal government if Donald Trump were elected. Trump disavowed any connection between the campaign and Project 2025, but since the election he has appointed many individuals involved with Project 2025 to important positions […]

US Department of Agriculture Addresses Research Access to Patented Seeds

By Luca Schirru On October 8, 2024, the USDA released a series of documents providing information on research activities involving patent seeds, which aimed at guiding researchers and other stakeholders through the intricate intersections between intellectual property (IP) and public research goals. The initiatives address three key scenarios: (i) recommendations to the USPTO for increasing […]

The right to research in Africa

By Desmond Oriakhogba “African researchers continue to face information-access barriers owing to copyright exclusivity preserved by the global copyright system that is designed and skewed towards protecting rights holders’ interests. A specific explicit human right to research is an important mechanism that can ensure an equitable balance between the private commercial interest of copyright owners […]