IPR and the Doha Round WTO trade negotiations

For those of you interested in intangibles (specifically IP) in trade law, there is an informative summary on the Intellectual Property Watch blog about IP Issues Reappear On Agenda Of WTO Talks. According to this report, the agenda includes: a formalization of the earlier agreed upon public health waiver on drug patents; a "geographical indications rights" proposal to set up a registry of protected names (naming rights) for items like food deriving their name from a specific geographic area (such as Parma ham); and, a proposal to require the disclosure of the origin of material or traditional knowledge in patent applications.

Frankly, these issues will be a sidelight to the main talks centering on agriculture and services. As such, decisions on these IPR issue may get made as part of larger deals - or at the last minute without much attention. I don't view any of the three IPR proposals as of earth-shattering concern. But, it will be best to at least keep an eye on them.