Karsten on Free Software

Together with Georg, I’m at the WIPO meeting in Geneva. The delegates have gotten together to discuss if the needs of developing countries should be better integrated into WIPO’s work. The climate, to me as a naive observer, seems as if the delegates are somewhat confused. Development normally is not an issue in their work; as a consequence, the comments on the proposals of Argentina and Brazil, which are considered revolutionary by the rightsholders industry lobby assembled here, seem a bit rough around the edges.

NGOs were mostly locked out in the run-up to the conference. Only organisations with permanent observer status were allowed in. This morning, there was an ad-hoc accreditation of 17 more NGOs. This helped a bit, but did not do much to remedy the fact that many NGO people simply do not have the resources to come to Geneva on the bare chance they might be allowed in.

The proposal of the US, submitted as a response, is just whacky: Create a website that would allow for easier contact between developing countries and rights holders. Besides, pair up developing countries’ beefed-up “IP” protection offices. Although this might slightly reduce transaction costs for developing countries, it would leave the fundamental problem untouched: The fact that much “intellectual property” is claimed by the rightsholder industry in rich countries, while developing countries are left to scavenge for what might drop down from the table.

Mexico’s proposal doesn’t really have any substance. Their most interesting point is that hostility towards the “IP” system in developing countries is just due to lack of information. They suggest that, if people only knew why their children can’t have school books, or why sick people cannot receive cheap generic medication instead of unaffordable original products, then they would gladly accept dying stupid – and doing so much more promptly than would be the case otherwise. Now that’s what I call an informed opinion.

The UK takes a very European approach. They say: “Yes, there are problems. We should discuss if we want to discuss these topics more frequently.”

This is the substance of two hour’s worth of of hypnotising, diplomatic dribble. I wonder if I will manage to stay awake all afternoon. This will be especially difficult, as the Chairman has cut out the coffee breaks, because the meeting started about an hour late. This especially hurts the observing NGOs, as those are the times when they get to do their lobby work, since we hardly have the possibility to speak during the conference phases. This afternoon, there will be statements on the proposals. This process might continue well into tomorrow.

Oh, and by the way: International diplomat’s mobile phones have the same boring and annoying ringtones as everyone else’s.