TACD is a dialogue between 65 consumer groups in the US and Europe, and the US government and the European Commission. The European Commission and the US Department of State work with TACD to hold meetings on a variety of trade related topics.

Two years ago TACD created a Working Group on Intellectual Property to examine a broad range of intellectual property issues, to build capacity within consumers organizations to monitor and influence trade related intellectual property issues, and encourage the United States government and the European Commission to make trade policy on intellectual property issues more responsive to consumer interests.

Three workshops on intellectual property issues were organized in the past 18 months, including workshops on intellectual property and pharmaceuticals (Washington, DC) the WIPO work program (Lisbon), and copyright in a digital age (Brussels). The April 5, 2004 meeting on Global Access to Essential Learning Tools is the fourth public TACD workshop on intellectual property issues.

Objectives

Each TACD Working Group on IP workshop has sought to focus and elevate public understanding on intellectual property issues, and the workshop on Global Access to Essential Learning Tools is no exception. The workshop will bring together an exceptional group of stakeholders, academic experts, and officials from governments and international organizations, to frame, evaluate and debate a variety of complex, controversial and important issues that relate to access to information.