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Let me try to clarify and give more details about this diplomatic incident. @Wikimedia applied to be an observer @WIPO because this is the intl forum that discusses issues like access to medicines and access to knowledge and agrees on intl laws on #copyright and patents. 1/ https://twitter.com/tenobre/status/1308690899761848320
Decisions @WIPO are made by consensus, and as far as we recall there is only be one instance where an observer status application has been refused: that of the Pirate Party International, in 2014, on the grounds that it was a federation of political parties. 2/
Civil society organizations with observer status @WIPO include @EFF, @creativecommons, @eduint, @IcomOfficiel, @IFLA, just to name a few. The forum is important to discuss #copyright issues, especially now that they are trying to bring the #article17 discussions there. 3/
The concerns raised by China today led the countries to postpone the decision. There's still a chance that @Wikimedia application will be accepted. But China raised One-China policy concerns and wants WM to clarify its Taiwan-related positions and who is Wikimedia Taiwan. 4/
China further said about @Wikimedia that (streamtext): "there is reason to believe that this foundation has been carrying out political activities through its member organizations which could undermine the state's sovereignty and territorial integrity" 5/
The US supported @Wikimedia, by stating that (streamtext) "evaluating an international NGO's credentials for observer status in WIPO is not a One-China issue" and that there are existing observers and countries that have some affiliation with Taiwan. 6/
The EU didn't make any statement, despite the fact that WM is an important stakeholder in the EU law reform discussions. But Group B (incl. EU, US, JP etc) stated they cherished the transparency and inclusiveness of @WIPO and urged the approval of all observer applications. 7/
The discussions took place on the third day (today) of the 53rd @WIPO General Assembly, and I believe all the participating civil society organizations are shocked with what happened. /8
