[A2k] WIPO Press Release: WIPO Hosts International Roundtable on the Economics of IP

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]


It would be have been nice if this press release contained the name of
the fifteen "leading economists" invited for the "International
Roundtable on the Economics of IP".

Thiru

-----------------------------------------


<SNIP>

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) hosted on November
26 and 27, 2007 a discussion grouping 15 leading economists from
around the world on the economics of intellectual property (IP).

<SNIP>

  The basis for discussions were six draft papers on the following
themes: Innovation and
Appropriability Strategies, IP and International Technology Transfer,
IP Rights in the Pharmaceutical Industry, The Economics of Copyright,
The Economics of
Geographical Indications, and IP Rights and Knowledge Transfer from
Public Research Organizations and Universities to Industry.

-----------------------------------------

WIPO Hosts International Roundtable
on the Economics of IP
Geneva, November 27, 2007
PR/2007/530

The World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) hosted on
November 26 and 27, 2007 a
discussion grouping 15 leading
economists from around the world on
the economics of intellectual
property (IP). The aim of the
International Roundtable on the
Economics of Intellectual Property
was to review the available economic
literature in this field and
identify empirical research projects
that could be undertaken in
developing countries and countries
in transition.

Opening the meeting, Mr. Sherif
Saadallah, Executive Director of
WIPO=92s Office of Strategic Use of
Intellectual Property for
Development, said that the
roundtable provided an opportunity
to review the empirical evidence,
identify gaps in the literature and
discuss methodological approaches
that could be applied to study the
economics of IP in developing
countries and countries with
economies in transition.=94  He added
=93The focus is on projects that could
provide valuable insights to
policy-makers...and contribute to
the overall understanding of the
economics of IP in developing
countries and countries in
transition and contribute to the
international debates in this
field.=94

In light of the recent adoption by
member states of a WIPO Development
Agenda, Mr. Saadallah said he
expected an increase in requests for
WIPO to study issues relating to IP
and economic development.  He added
that =93the Development Agenda is a
landmark agreement in the history of
the Organization which reflects the
desire of member states to ensure
that the IP system is not perceived
as an end in itself but as an
instrument to promote technological
innovation and creativity, as well
as the transfer and dissemination of
knowledge.=94 Mr. Saadallah said =93Many
developing countries in particular
have expressed their interest in
assessing the impact of the IP
reforms undertaken over the past
decade on innovation, creativity,
technology transfer, access to
technology and other important
elements of countries=92 development
strategies. It is, therefore,
extremely important for WIPO to be
ready to undertake such studies.=94

The economists reviewed relevant
empirical evidence, identified gaps
in the literature and discussed
methodological approaches that could
be applied to study the issues in
developing countries and countries
in transition.  The basis for
discussions were six draft papers on
the following themes: Innovation and
Appropriability Strategies, IP and
International Technology Transfer,
IP Rights in the Pharmaceutical
Industry, The Economics of
Copyright, The Economics of
Geographical Indications, and IP
Rights and Knowledge Transfer from
Public Research Organizations and
Universities to Industry.

Discussions focused on the type of
empirical research that could be
undertaken in developing countries
and countries with economies in
transition in these
areas. Participants generally
recognized that there had not been
adequate empirical economic research
on IP in developing countries and
that this could limit the capacity
for evidence-based policy-making in
this field. It was highlighted that
the lack of data and difficulties in
understanding the intricacies of the
IP system by economists may be some
of the reasons why limited research
has been undertaken in this area.

Participants acknowledged that
empirical research undertaken over
recent years in industrialized
countries could provide interesting
insights on how to study the issues
in developing countries, but greater
efforts should be made at ensuring
that research was adapted to the
realities and policy-making needs of
developing countries. On each of the
six themes, suggestions were made on
the types of research projects that
could be undertaken and discussions
enabled participating economists to
test their ideas with colleagues and
jointly explore possible projects.

The draft papers prepared for the
roundtable will be revised on the
basis of discussions and the final
papers are expected to be published
in the first half of 2008.

For more information, please contact
the Media Relations and Public
Affairs Section at WIPO:

      *             Tel.:
        +4122-3388161 or
        +4122-3389547
      *             Fax:
        +4122-3388280
      *
        Email:              publicinf@wipo.int

------------------------------------------------------------


Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
Mobile: +41 76 508 0997