Australia and WIPO Sign Agreement in Favor of Least-Developed and Developing Countries

جنيف, June 15, 2012
PR/2012/711

(This communiqué is released jointly with the Australian Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization)

Australia and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) today signed an agreement detailing how an AUD$2 million Australian contribution would assist least-developed and developing countries improve their intellectual property systems.

Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative
to the World Trade Organization, Tim Yeend, and
Director General Francis Gurry (Photo: WIPO/Berrod)

Australia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization, Tim Yeend, said Australia’s contribution built upon existing cooperation between WIPO and IP Australia in relation to the provision of IP-related technical assistance and capacity building in the Asia-Pacific region.

“Australia’s contribution demonstrates its commitment to assisting least-developed and developing countries to promote and protect their creativity and innovation through the intellectual property system,” he said.

The memorandum of understanding identifies four areas for funding: developing intellectual property systems; promoting technology transfer; addressing neglected tropical diseases and ensuring persons with print disabilities have equal access to published works as persons without print disabilities.

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry welcomed Australia’s contribution which he said would serve the development needs of least-developed and developing countries. “This generous contribution will cover projects to help least-developed and developing countries build capacity in the field of intellectual property and ensure they were in a position to actively participate in the benefits of innovation and the knowledge economy,” he said.

WIPO, as the lead United Nations agency mandated to promote the protection of intellectual property through cooperation among states and in collaboration with other international organizations, is committed to ensuring that all countries are able to benefit from the use of IP for economic, social and cultural development.

Australia’s $2 million contribution to WIPO is part of an AusAID AUD$16 million package to help least-developed and developing countries benefit from global trade.