WIPO s Strategies on Intellectual Property and Economic Development

WIPO’s Strategies on Intellectual Property and Economic Development United Nations Economic and Social Council New York June 7, 2005 Secretariat of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

WIPO ’s GOAL • Promote creativity and technology transfer for economic, social and cultural development through: – intellectual property protection worldwide – creation of infrastructure and environment conducive to understanding the role of IP for development – building capacities in developing countries – international cooperation between governments and other stakeholders

WIPO TODAY • 182 member states • Administers 23 international treaties: – Intellectual Property Protection – Global Protection System – Classification Systems and Procedures • Activities: – Registration – Development of IP Law – Development Cooperation

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK • Promote an IP culture • Integrate IP in national development policies and programs • Progressive development of international IP law • Delivery of quality services in global IP protection systems • Build and strengthen partnerships • Greater efficiency of management and administrative support processes within WIPO

PRINCIPLES • Member driven • Responsive to the increasing role of IP, the changing environment, priorities and the broad objectives of development • Widest coverage • Use of local and regional expertise • Participation of private sector, academia and civil society

APPROACH • IP as a means and not as a goal in itself • Economic Development within the MDGs • Create environment conducive to economic, social and cultural development • Comprehensive plans to facilitate the integration of IP into development policies • Elements: – flexibility, – balance, – safeguards

SPECIAL FOCUS AREAS • Least Developed Countries • Legislative Advice • Copyright Collective Management • Small and Medium Sized Enterprises • Capacity Building • New Technologies and Innovation Promotion • Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Folklore

FOCUS SHIFT • Originally emphasis on: – strengthening the legal framework and IP infrastructure – capacity building and human resources development • Assistance extended after TRIPS contributed to: – better understanding of IP concepts – more extensive use of system • New aim: – capitalize on technical/legal assistance rendered for more economic, social and cultural deliverables

PATENTS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • Facilitate transfer and investment • Disseminate initial knowledge as free input (“public good”) to produce further knowledge as output (“private good”) • Encourage licensing arrangements • Catalyze new technologies and businesses • Increases return on investment • Support national industrial policies

TRADEMARKS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • Essential part of marketing strategies • Differentiate products from those of rivals • Consumer protection • Franchising • Branding • Merchandising • Licensing • Trademarks and domain name registration • Geographical Indications

COPYRIGHT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • Protects creativity and creates incentives for producing cultural assets • Balances public with private interest • Enhances economic growth • Preserves cultural heritage and produces widespread social effects

WIPO DEVELOPMENT AGENDA • General Assembly 2004 welcomed the initiative • Convene inter-sessional intergovernmental meetings to examine proposals • Prepare report by July 30, 2005, for the consideration of the next General Assembly • Consider the issue in September 2005 session • Organize International Seminar on IP and Development

IIM - APRIL 2005 • Discussed proposals by: – Brazil and Argentina (and 12 other countries) for Establishing a Development Agenda for WIPO – United States of America for the Establishment of a Partnership Program in WIPO – Mexico on Intellectual Property and Development – “Friends of Development” - Proposal to Establish a Development Agenda for WIPO: An elaboration of issues raised in earlier document – United Kingdom on IP and Development

THE WAY FORWARD • Development of national IP strategies and policies • Use of IP in the market place • Enhance technology exchange • Institution building and human resource development • Flexibilities and public policy • Least developed countries • Partnerships: governmental, inter- and non-governmental

CONCLUSIONS • Developing countries are increasingly using the IP system • Development is a horizontal issue in WIPO • The need of using existing flexibilities in the IP system becomes more visible today • Intellectual property is becoming a priority policy issue • International consensus on IP is crucial to preserve the inherent balance in the system

Thank you Nuno Pires de Carvalho Acting Director-Advisor Industrial Property Legislation for Development nuno. carvalho@wipo. int