US Wants WIPO To Host IP Maximalist Agenda Day; Public Interest Groups Not Invited [Updated]
from the isn't-this-for-the-public-interest dept
See the update at the endWe've already written about how WIPO caved to US pressure (along with a few other countries) in delaying a decision on whether or not the Pirate Parties International group can act as an observer at WIPO meetings. However, in the KEI report that revealed that decision, there was also a separate story worth highlighting as well: the news that the US is pushing for WIPO to hold an intellectual property maximalist day, but has no interest in hearing what public interest groups have to say.
In another development, the US said it is asked that WIPO set aside a regular day for corporate right holder groups. One member of the US delegate said they wanted a "Davos type" format, with CEOs of leading companies interacting with government delegates and WIPO officials. When asked, have you proposed similar event for consumer, public health and development groups, the answer was no. The US said its proposal at WIPO for the right-holders day had a lot of support. It also comes at the same time that the pharmaceutical and processed food industries are seeking more direct roles in the governance of the World Health Organization (WHO), under a "WIPO Reform" negotiation.This is, of course, not particularly surprising, though it is troubling. Considering, again, that we're told that the purpose of these laws is to benefit the public, even as these companies often pretend it's really just about benefiting them, it would seem that any such event should have a very high level of participation by the public itself, including various public interest groups.
Update: Some good additional info from Nick Ashton-Hart who was in the room when this was proposed, and who says that it's not as bad as the original report suggested. Instead, he points out that the request did not come from industry sources, and isn't about big rightsholders, but about actually getting real innovators and inventors to come and tell WIPO officials what they do -- which could actually be useful. I'm still concerned about how this would be set up in reality, but perhaps it's not as bad as it sounded from the original report.
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Filed Under: copyright, crony capitalism, maximalists, public interest, wipo
Reader Comments
The First Word
“I am the largest rights holder
As a rights holder of the entire public domain, may I attend?Subscribe: RSS
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Missing interest groups
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Hope this Century they all fall hard as I will feel no sympathy.
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This is all a bit overcooked
First: nobody at industry asked for this.
Second: the idea the countries who proposed this have is not to have big corporate rightsholders show up to extol their virtues, but to have inventors and innovators from around the world come and talk about what they do.
Third: When I made CCIA's intervention, I made clear that what is needed at WIPO is substantial reform - and a complete overhaul of the entire relationship with ALL NGOs, and all of them should be treated on an equal footiing.
The idea of a Davos-like environment isn't a good one. Having real inventors around is a good idea. Having lots more people in suits around talking about invention, but who aren't inventors, isn't really useful.
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Re: This is all a bit overcooked
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Re: Re: This is all a bit overcooked
There is no way the developing world is going to agree to this Davos-like construction whether or not the developed countries like it.
Whatever is going on in health IGOs is a separate issue. We don't want to import anyone else's bad ideas to WIPO; we have plenty of difficult problem areas there now.
I understand Jamie's concerns - I really do - I just don't agree that the intent is anything like as bad as he is thinking it is. What's most frustrating is this is taking on a whole life of its own when the bigger issues of transparency, accountability, and good governance are serious issues. This is just one potentially bad meeting, which isn't even agreed to by the member-states.
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I am the largest rights holder
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Re: I am the largest rights holder
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Nick's comments
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I'm hungry. Someone needs to go make me a sandwich and bring it to me right now.
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Sandviches, on the other hand...
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WIPO IP Maximalist Day
Sounds like, "cool, let's meet the big guys, maybe we can get autographs."
All these guys are interested in is a junket and hob nobbing with a bunch of C Level executives who are their big constituents. Then they can say we met with the IP owners and they agree that our approach is the best one.
I came, I ate, I enjoyed the cocktails, we agreed, now get over it.
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