The objective of this informal note is to give non-governmental organizations (NGOs) an overview of the results of the Doha Ministerial of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and of negotiations and reviews currently underway in the Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Council) of the WTO. The note will also present some views on how North-South divisions over intellectual property rights could be bridged, and how some of civil society’s concerns could be addressed. In addition, this note will analyze the need to rebalance the Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), the content of the Doha Mandates and finally some new inter-linkages that arise with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).