EIFL statement in support of LDC TRIPs waiver

In the run-up to the World Trade Organization (WTO) TRIPS Council meeting on 5-6 March 2013, EIFL issued a statement in support of the request by least developed countries (LDCs) for an extension, without pre-condition, of the LDC transition period, in the interests of access to knowledge, libraries and development. EIFL and member consortia in Ghana, Lesotho and Lithuania also joined an open letter signed by hundreds of civil society organizations to members of the WTO.

While developing countries argued strongly for the need for the extension, developed countries did not support the scope of the request. Therefore informal consultations will take place between now and the next TRIPS Council meeting in June 2013, when agreement must be reached before the expiry of the current extension period on 1 July 2013.

Read the EIFL statement, the civil society letter to members of the WTO, and a round-up of news and Member State interventions.

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