Adelphi Charter

Well it's here. Interesting balance of legal and social questions, clarity and strategy.

I agree with pretty much everything in the Charter. Two main questions, however, after initial mulling, are:

(1) how the points included relate to other ones - for example human rights to IP and property ( but this is very much a question of balance, which is clearly addressed in point 3) and the role of the WTO in IP; and

(2) that the essence of each point (save 7) can in fact be found in the much maligned TRIPS (whether they are used properly at present is of course another matter).

I'm also interested in the main call for a presumption against no new or extended IP rights - mainly, from our project's perspective, because of the question begged in respect of how to deal with existing ones.

All in all, it's a useful document: a concise reminder of the need for questioning and balance when considering IP, rather than assuming it to be an absolute good which must be increased at all times. I'll be intrigued, given the fate of TRIPS, to see how the suggested "next steps"fare (see p7 FAQ on the resources part of site).