[Ip-health] WIPO's LDC high level forum

[James Love]

For those who think that the departure of Idris from WIP is because he
was too friendly to consumer interests, one might look at this recent
LDC forum.  The issue of access to medicine (or the Doha Declaration on
TRIPS and Public Health) is not mentioned in the summary or the program.
The words "exceptions" is not mentioned.   The only use of the word
"access" is in connection with "market access."

The whole point of the forum is to raise IP standards in LDCs.  This has
been the main thrust of Idris at WIPO for many years.

Jamie


-------- Forwarded Message --------
From: publicinf@wipo.int
Reply-To: publicinf@wipo.int
To: pressinfo-en@lists.wipo.int
Subject: Press Release: Importance of IP for Development in LDCs
Emphasized at High Level Forum
Date: Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:11:11 +0100 (CET)

Importance of IP for Development in LDCs Emphasized at High Level Forum
Geneva, December 13, 2007
PR/2007/531

Ministers and top officials from least developed countries (LDCs)
highlighted the importance of intellectual property (IP) as a strategic
tool for alleviating poverty and promoting wealth creation in least
developed countries (LDCs) at a high-level forum organized by the World
Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on December 12, 2007 at its
Geneva headquarters. The Forum was attended by several ministers from
LDCs, ambassadors and permanent representatives, and senior government
officials and provided an opportunity to exchange views and gain
insights into IP capacity-building measures to promote effective use and
management of the IP system. It further enabled participants to explore
practical solutions to questions about how the IP system can be
developed to ensure that it serves the interests of LDCs in meeting
their developmental objectives.

Opening the Forumf the Director General of WIPO, Dr. Kamil Idris, said
the Organization "is committed to promoting creativity and innovation in
all countries, and to empowering them to utilize intellectual property
as a tool for wealth creation, social and cultural development. This
includes ensuring that the special needs of LDCs are fully addressed
through WIPO's programs and that they are supported in making effective
use of intellectual property as a catalyst for economic growth and
social welfare." Dr. Idris outlined WIPO's assistance to LDCs and
pledged further support in helping these countries develop their IP
capacity to support new product and service development, increase market
access, investment and trade. Dr. Idris cited various WIPO initiatives
to support LDCs and referred to the recent adoption by member states of
the WIPO Development Agenda, which he described as "a milestone" in
integrating the development dimension into the Organization's
activities.

A number of ministers addressed a special plenary session on the theme:
"Building IP Capacity and a Knowledge Base for Wealth Creation, Social
and Cultural Development". They expressed appreciation to the Director
General for organizing this high level Forum and urged him to
institutionalize the meeting as an annual event. Ministers also called
on WIPO to further strengthen its IP capacity-building activities for
LDCs.

Mr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Ambassador, Permanent Representative,
Permanent Mission of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the United
Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva and the current
Chairman of the Coordination Council of LDCs, said that the attendance
of ministers at the Forum testified to the growing importance attached
by LDCs to IP. Highlighting the development potential of IP, he said IP
is "a powerful instrument for LDCs in attaining" many development
objectives. He said IP "can be a strategic tool to promote innovation
and give a boost to the SMEs, generate income for our artisans and
performers, protect our traditional knowledge, healing practices and
cultural heritage from misappropriation, help increase food production,
bring benefit from geographical indicators, expand innovative and
non-traditional ways of learning, facilitate investment and transfer for
technology and generate wealth." Mr. Bhattacharya said "In building a
knowledge-based economy, understanding IP issues and applying IP
solutions are indispensable. Informed policy choices and implementation
in all areas of material human development can not be devoid of IP
related inputs. Thus using IP for development is not an option, but a
necessity."

Mrs. Mpeo Mahase-Moiloa, Minister for Law and Constitutional Affairs and
for Justice and Human Rights and Rehabilitation of Lesotho, and
Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of the African Regional
Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), said IP "plays a pivotal
role towards economic growth and development." The Minister said that
ARIPO was working to establish effective IP protection mechanisms and to
create an enabling environment for stimulating innovation in its member
countries." Mrs. Mahase-Moiloa commended WIPO's many initiatives taken
to assist LDCs under the leadership of the Director General.  She said
the greatest challenge in Africa today is to enhance awareness and "to
illustrate how the utilization of this system can lead to results that
bear economic gain."

Mr. Madicke Niang, Minister for Mines and Industry, Senegal, said that
IP was an essential part of globalization and "an undeniable motor for
social and economic development." The Minister pointed to the need to
promote better understanding of the benefits of the IP system and to
further develop training programs for IP professionals. Mr. Niang said
that the IP system has the potential to assist LDCs in boosting their
competitiveness in international markets.

Mr. Mamady Traor=C3=A9, Minister for Industry, Commerce, Tourism and
Handicraft of the Republic of Guinea, said IP capacity building is a
priority for his government. He referred to a plan of action for
2007-2009, which includes an IP component and which is designed to
breathe new impetus into the national economy. The Minister deplored the
counterfeiting of Guinean handicrafts which he said has resulted in loss
of jobs, wealth and income for the country. While pointing out that
Guinea has benefited from constant support from WIPO in terms of
training and capacity building, he urged further assistance to help the
country to modernize its IP infrastructure.

Mr. Belele Negesso, State Minister of Capacity Building of Ethiopia,
said that the field of IP "has seen tremendous changes with profound
implications for least developed countries" in recent years. He said
"these changes made it mandatory on LDCs to adopt comprehensive new
legislative instruments or modify certain aspects of their legal and
judicial systems" in particular as regards the administration of
intellectual property rights. Mr. Negesso said that his country had
become increasingly aware of the need to strengthen its IP system in
line with developments at the global level.

Mr. Fredrick Ruhindi, Deputy Attorney General and Minister of State,
Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Uganda, expressed his
country's appreciation for and support of WIPO. The Minister called for
the "transformation of economies through intellectual property" and
emphasized the importance of raising awareness and promoting better
understanding of IP among policy-makers. He further called on developed
countries to support such initiatives which would be of future mutual
benefit and underlined the need for concerted action in this area.

The special plenary session was followed by a series of presentations on
various IP issues by international experts (full program at
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/mdocs/en/wipo_ip_ldc_ge_07/wipo_ip_ldc_ge_0=
7_inf_1_prov_3.doc).

In summarizing the day's discussions, Mr. Bhattacharya said "there was
general agreement that IP can help LDCs attain their development
targets, contribute to wealth generation, and propel them in achieving
the Millennium Development Goals." He said that the success stories
presented at the Forum =E2=80=93 such as Ethiopian coffee and Ghanaian
chocolates =E2=80=93 showed that LDCs have the potential to reap economic
benefits from using difference aspect of the IP system to enhance
competitiveness. Mr. Bhattacharya also noted a number of challenges that
had been identified during discussions, namely, building IP awareness,
strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, resource constraints,
and expanding the IP knowledge base. The Forum underscored the need for
WIPO to intensify its assistance to LDCs, Mr. Bhattacharya concluded. He
said WIPO should allocate additional resources to assist LDCs raise
awareness, enact and implement IP policies, build capacities and
institutions, support development of indigenous industries and promote
innovation.

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


Wednesday, December 12, 2007

9.00 =E2=80=93 10.00
Registration

10.00 =E2=80=93 10.30
OPENING CEREMONY

Welcome addresses by:

The representative of the Global Coordinator for the Least Developed
Countries (LDCs), Geneva

The representative of the Director General of the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva

10.30 =E2=80=93 11.30
Special plenary:  Building intellectual property (IP) capacity and
knowledge base for wealth creation, social and cultural development

Representatives of:  Bangladesh, Benin, Mozambique, Rwanda and Samoa


11.30 =E2=80=93 11.45
Coffee Break

Theme One:
Strategic importance of industrial property for promoting innovation,
trade, investment and transfer of technology for poverty alleviation and
wealth creation

11.45 =E2=80=93 12.00
(a)=09Business considerations relating to patent licensing and technology
transfer

Speaker:
Mr. Yuke Chin Lee, Consultant, Kuala Lumpur

12.00 =E2=80=93 12.30
(b)=09Strengthening business identifiers and commercialization of products
and services for LDCS

Speakers:
Mr. Ron Layton, IP Trade and Development Specialist, Light Years IP,
Washington, D.C.

Mr. Getachew Mengistie, Director General, Ethiopian Intellectual
Property Office (EIPO), Addis Ababa

12.30 =E2=80=93 13.00
Discussions

13.00 =E2=80=93 14.00
Lunch Break


Theme Two:
Copyright and related rights and collective management societies

14.00 =E2=80=93 14.15
(a)=09The contribution of copyright industry to the national economy:
lessons and experiences

Speaker:
Mr. Gadi Oron, Legal Adviser, Global Legal Policy, International
Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), London

14.15 =E2=80=93 14.30
(b)=09Economic benefits of collective management of copyright and
related rights

Speaker:
Mrs. Tarja Koskinen Olsson, Consultant, Stockholm

14.30 =E2=80=93 15.00
Discussions

Theme Three:
Traditional knowledge, genetic resources and expressions of folklore in
LDCs


15.00 =E2=80=93 15.15
(a)=09Overview of international development in the area of traditional
knowledge, genetic resources and expression of folklore in LDCs

Speaker:
H.E. Mr. I. Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja,
Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative,
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia to the
United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva


15.15 =E2=80=93 15.30
(b)=09Promotion, protection and development of traditional knowledge,
folklore, for the benefit of LDCs

Speaker:
Mr. Mohammad Nurul Huda, Consultant and former Director, Bangla Academy,
Dhaka

15.30 =E2=80=93 16.00
Discussions


16.00 =E2=80=93 16.15
Coffee Break

Theme Four:
Building sustainable Institutions, infrastructure and public/private
partnership

16.15 =E2=80=93 16.45
(a)=09Legal and legislative options under international
treaties/agreements


Speakers:
Mr. Adrian Otten, Director, Intellectual Property Division, World Trade
Organization (WTO), Geneva

Mr. Octavio Espinosa, Director, Legislative and Legal Advice Division,
Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Sector, WIPO


16.45 =E2=80=93 17.00
(b)=09The role of higher educational and research and development
institutions in LDCs and their contribution for invention, innovation
and creativity

Speaker:
Prof. Burton Mwamila, Chairman, Tanzania Commission for Science and
Technology (COSTECH);  Dean, College of Engineering and Technology
(CoET), Dar es Salaam


17.00 =E2=80=93 17.15
(c)=09The role of business, industries and professional associations and
financial institutions in promoting innovation and creativity among the
enterprise sector

Speaker:
Mr. Ron Layton

17.15 =E2=80=93 17.45
Discussions

17.45 =E2=80=93 18.00
CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSING CEREMONY