Yet more amendments to TRIPS?

IP Watch reports on the proposal by prominent developing countries for a new amendment to article 29 TRIPS (patent applications). This will be considered at the forthcoming meeting of the TRIPS Council. It proposes disclosure in patent applications of the origin of bio resources and traditional knowledge.

IP Watch reports on a range of views, not surprisingly, between countries, and also of the possibility of more forum shop/shift debates involving the WIPO PCT, WTO and CBD (no human rights bodies, at least at this stage). If the development is to have any substance, WTO/TRIPS must be pursued - but as has been seen with essential medicines and compulsory licensing/parallel importing, this would be the start, not the end, of the road.