India bats for IPR flexibilities for developing countries

(UNI) India batted for Intellectual Property flexibilities for developing countries to enable them to address pressing social challenges and commitments and called for a binding treaty to protect traditional knowledge. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, while addressing a High Level Policy Dialogue at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Headquarters in Geneva, said the countries of the South which bear a disproportionate burden of poverty, hunger and disease for historical reasons, had an aspiration to provide affordable healthcare to their citizens. Political leadership in such cases faced an ethical dilemma and tried to find creative solutions which would strike the right balance. 'It is my belief that while all countries are obligated to honour their international commitments, inherent flexibilities must be provided to developing countries to address these pressing social challenges,' he said. UNI