[A2k] WIPO Media Alert on Upcoming Development Agenda meetings

Wed Apr 6 12:30:04 2005

Does anyone know the implications of " Any departure from the original
General Assembly decision on this question rests firmly within the
hands of the member states."?

<snip>
This meeting will consider the original proposal submitted by the
aforementioned countries, as well as proposals by other member states,
which for the time being have come from Mexico (entitled "Intellectual
Property and Development") and the United States of America (entitled
"Establishment of a Partnership Program in WIPO").

Participation at the IIM was clearly defined in the General Assembly
decision of October 4, 2004 which is available at
http://www.wipo.int/documents/en/document/govbody/wo_gb_ga/doc/
wo_ga_31_15.doc (page 68) and states that "WIPO-accredited IGOs and
NGOs are invited to participate as observers in the meetings." The WIPO
secretariat has taken note of non-accredited NGOs that have requested
to participate in the IIM, on an ad hoc basis. To date, 19 requests
have been received. Any departure from the original General Assembly
decision on this question rests firmly within the hands of the member
states.

It should be noted that any NGO can seek permanent accreditation at
WIPO by simply filling out an application form. This request is
submitted to WIPO=92s member states for consideration at their annual
General Assemblies meetings in October. Some 260 IGOs and NGOs already
have observer status at WIPO.
</snip>

http://www.wipo.int/edocs/prdocs/en/2005/wipo_ma_2005_18.html

Home > News & Information Resources > Press Room
WIPO logo
Media Alert 18
Geneva, April 6, 2005
WIPO TO HOST MEETINGS ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will host a series
of meetings in April and May 2005 on intellectual property and
development.

The meetings were decided by the WIPO General Assembly in early October
2004. The decision followed a discussion by the General Assembly on a
proposal originally presented by Argentina and Brazil
-(http://www.wipo.int/documents/en/document/govbody/wo_gb_ga/doc/
wo_ga_31_12.doc). The proposal was subsequently co-sponsored by 12
other countries, namely Bolivia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador,
Egypt, Iran, Kenya, Peru, Sierra Leone, South Africa, United Republic
of Tanzania, and Venezuela.

The proposal listed specific actions to incorporate the development
dimension in WIPO=92s various activities. Following the General Assembly
debate, member states adopted a decision "to convene inter-sessional
intergovernmental meetings to examine the proposals contained" in the
Argentina/Brazil proposal, "as well as additional proposals of member
states." The General Assembly decided that the meetings would also be
open to WIPO accredited inter-governmental and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs). A report on these meetings will be presented to
the General Assembly for its consideration when it meets in September
2005. The decision also called on WIPO to organize, with other relevant
multilateral organizations, an international seminar on intellectual
property and development, open to all stakeholders, including NGOs,
civil society and academia.

The Inter-sessional Intergovernmental Meeting on a Development Agenda
for WIPO (IIM) will meet at WIPO=92s headquarters in Geneva from April
11-13, 2005 (documents available at
http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=3D7522). This
meeting will consider the original proposal submitted by the
aforementioned countries, as well as proposals by other member states,
which for the time being have come from Mexico (entitled "Intellectual
Property and Development") and the United States of America (entitled
"Establishment of a Partnership Program in WIPO").

Participation at the IIM was clearly defined in the General Assembly
decision of October 4, 2004 which is available at
http://www.wipo.int/documents/en/document/govbody/wo_gb_ga/doc/
wo_ga_31_15.doc (page 68) and states that "WIPO-accredited IGOs and
NGOs are invited to participate as observers in the meetings." The WIPO
secretariat has taken note of non-accredited NGOs that have requested
to participate in the IIM, on an ad hoc basis. To date, 19 requests
have been received. Any departure from the original General Assembly
decision on this question rests firmly within the hands of the member
states.

It should be noted that any NGO can seek permanent accreditation at
WIPO by simply filling out an application form. This request is
submitted to WIPO=92s member states for consideration at their annual
General Assemblies meetings in October. Some 260 IGOs and NGOs already
have observer status at WIPO.

WIPO's Permanent Committee on Cooperation for Development Related to
Intellectual Property will meet on April 14 and 15, 2005 (documents
available at
http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=3D7524). The PCIPD
would review the current directions and priorities in WIPO's
cooperation activities for developing countries. These activities today
concentrate on assisting developing countries to formulate appropriate
national intellectual property policies and strategies in supporting
development goals as well as in creating business opportunities for
innovators and creators. The PCIPD would also give advice and
suggestions on future work and activities in these areas.

The International Seminar on Intellectual Property and Development,
which is co-organized by WIPO with the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development (UNCTAD), World Health Organization (WHO), United
Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and World Trade
Organization (WTO) will be held on May 2 and 3, 2005 and is open to all
interested parties, including the press. The Seminar will discuss
policy and operational issues relating to intellectual property and
development and provide an international forum where practitioners,
academia, consultants, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
governments and the wider public may exchange information, experiences
and views on the subject. The program is available at
http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=3D7523.

For more information, please contact the Media Relations and Public
Affairs section at WIPO: Tel: + 41 22 338 8161 or 338 95 47; e-mail:
publicinf@wipo.int.

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