News regarding SA/USTR/ and other disputes

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

Everything is going extremely well.  USTR has officially dropped South
Africa from the 310 Watch lists. SA newspapers are reporting Cipla has
applied for a compulsory licensing for AZT in South Africa.  And as
everyone knows, the President has ordered a permanent review of 301 cases
by public health authorities.  

Problem area, EC has a well meaning but rather boneheaded proposal to say
the developing countries can use compulsory licenses for the WHO essential
drugs list.  This could be interpreted as a huge restriction on the use of
CL, and everyone who has a clue is trying to fix this.  

New SA type dispute?  US is apparently putting massive pressure on
the Dominican Republic to pass a law with good CL and PI provisions, much
of the pressure in the past several weeks, as the law nears consideration
by law makers in the Dominican Republic.  

We will be asking for an immediate end to this pressure, and hope others
will contact USTR for information on this country dispute.

Jamie

-------------------------------
James Love 
Center for Study of Responsive Law | Consumer Project on Technology 
P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036 | http://www.cptech.org
Voice 202/387-8030 | Fax 202/234-5176 | love@cptech.org