TWN Info Service on Intellectual Property Issues (Jun13/05)
12 June 2013
Third World Network

Dear All,

Yesterday  the WTO TRIPS Council approved a 8-year extension of the transition period for Least Developed Countries.  This means that LDCs continue to have policy space and can defer implementation of the TRIPS Agreement for another 8 years.  The Decision allows further extension at the end of the 8 year period.

The Decision also does not contain the obligatory "no-rollback" clause contained in the previous extension decision.  It is replaced with language that allows LDCs to make full use of the flexibilities granted by the TRIPS Agreement, including under Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement to rollback their laws

Due to the opposition of developed countries, the decision does not deliver on the original demands of the LDCs (i.e. an unconditional extension for as long as a country remains a LDC) but the outcome is an improvement over the previous extension decision.

Below are the elements of the  Decision on the LDC Extension adopted yesterday by the TRIPS Council.

Regards
Sangeeta Shashikant
Third World Network

The Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the "Council for TRIPS"),

Having regard to the transition period for least developed country Members provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 66 of the TRIPS Agreement (the "Agreement");

Recalling that this transition period was extended by the Decision of the Council for TRIPS of 30 November 2005 (IP/C/40) until 1 July 2013;

Having regard to the request from least developed country Members, dated 5 November 2012, for a further extension of this transition period, contained in document IP/C/W/583;

Recognizing the special needs and requirements of least developed country Members, the economic, financial and administrative constraints that they continue to face, and their need for flexibility to create a viable technological base;

Recognizing the continuing needs of least developed country Members for technical and financial cooperation so as to enable them to realize the cultural, social, technological and other developmental objectives of intellectual property systems;

Decides as follows:

1. Least developed country Members shall not be required to apply the provisions of the Agreement, other than Articles 3, 4 and 5, until 1 July 2021, or until such a date on which they cease to be a least developed country Member, whichever date is earlier.
2. Recognizing the progress that least developed country Members have already made towards implementing the TRIPS Agreement, including in accordance with paragraph 5 of IP/C/40, least developed country Members express their determination to preserve and continue the progress towards implementation of the TRIPS Agreement. Nothing in this decision shall prevent least developed country Members from making full use of the flexibilities provided by the Agreement to address their needs, including to create a sound and viable technological base and to overcome their capacity constraints supported by, among other steps, implementation of Article 66.2 by developed country Members.
3. This Decision is without prejudice to the Decision of the Council for TRIPS of 27 June 2002 on "Extension of the Transition Period under Article66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement for Least-Developed Country Members for Certain Obligations with respect to Pharmaceutical Products" (IP/C/25), and to the right of least developed country Members to seek further extensions of the period provided for in paragraph 1 of Article 66 of the Agreement