Central America woes on IP for medicines: free trade - who benefits?

The eighth round of negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Central America is around the corner. However, there is concern regarding the EU's ambitions on intellectual property. The main worry is about access to medicines. Specifically, the 20 years duration and the data protection period are the thorny points. The EU proposes to extend both of them.

Studies showing how the proposed EU IP aims could harm public health argue that the European Commission negotiators can no longer claim ignorance about the harmful consequences of rigid regulations on intellectual property, says a blogger on the IP Tango site.

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