World IP Day 2002 - Activity Reports

The following is a selection of events planned by various countries, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in observance of World Intellectual Property Day:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Antigua and Barbuda

The Trademarks and Patent Department has organized the following activities:

  • An interview was given by the Deputy Registrar of the High Court, which was broadcast during the local news on ABS (Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Service) Television, on April 25, 2002, p.m.
  • The statement of the Director General of WIPO was broadcast on ABS Television on April 26, 2002, a.m.
  • The film on "Creativity" and the global importance of intellectual property will be broadcast on ABS Television.
  • A special feature on intellectual property and the role of WIPO in the world was published in the Antigua Sun Newspaper on April 26, 2002, and will be followed by a weekly series featuring the different types of intellectual property.
  • A mini-exhibition on intellectual property will be held at the High Court of Justice to educate stakeholders and other members of the public about the importance of protecting intellectual property rights.

Argentina

A celebratory event is to be organized under the auspices of the National Institute of Industrial Property. Other Ministries concerned, such as the Ministry of Justice, and the NIC Argentina (Domain Name Registry) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cult as well as the National Directorate of Copyright will also participate.

Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO)

A meeting of the Liaison Officers of AALCO Member States will be held at the AALCO Secretariat, New Delhi, on April 26, 2002, to commemorate World IP Day. At the meeting the Secretary General of AALCO will make a statement on the AALCO-WIPO joint initiatives recently launched and the potential for future cooperation.

A report will be published on the AALCO-WIPO Seminar on Issues relating to the Implementation of Intellectual Property Rights, held in November 1999, by AALCO. The report will be released by a chief guest from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Educative posters relating to intellectual property and WIPO will be displayed at the AALCO Secretariat.

Australia

A Seminar featuring Australian innovators and IP specialists speaking about how intellectual property is benefiting Australian Business, will be held on April 26, 2002 in Canberra.

A special "Happy Hour" will be organized by IP Australia on April 26, 2002 in Canberra, with participating State Offices, where a ceremony to appreciate staff who have made a significant contribution to intellectual property in Australia through contributing 30 years or more of service to IP Australia will also take place.

The official launch of both IP Access and the IP Toolbox by the Hon. Warren Entsch, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Mr. David Miles, Chair of the National Innovation Awareness Council and Mr. Mark Paterson, Secretary of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, will be held at a lunch-time event in Sydney.

Austria

A regional exhibition on intellectual property is to be held jointly by the Austrian Patent Office and the Hungarian Patent Office and other institutions in both Austria and Hungary in honour of World IP Day.

Bahrain

World IP Day has been publicized throughout the various Directorates of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as well as on its official website: http://www.commerce.gov.bh

Bangladesh

A rally is to be organized, and also discussions on intellectual property. Banners highlighting World IP Day will be on display.

World IP Day will be publicized by the media, to raise public awareness and understanding of the importance of intellectual property protection.

Benin

The following activities are to be held by the Benin Copyright Office (BUBEDRA):

  • A Professional Day for Authors and Composers is to be held on April 22, 2002, for all authors and composers, where questions may be raised on subjects such as their rights and obligations, protection mechanisms, promotion and management of their works, and the methods and forms of their involvement in the management of their rights.
  • A Workshop on writing and reading music is to be held for musicians from 23 - 26 April, 2002.
  • On April 26, 2002, to close these activities, there will be an evening of celebration presided over by the Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Tourism, during which a national author-composer, chosen on objective criteria of merit, will officially receive a WIPO medal for creativity.

Following the death of an ex-Head of State, the activities have been postponed as follows:

  • The Professional Day for Authors and Composers will be held on May 13, 2002.
  • The Workshop on writing and reading music will be held from May 14 - 16, 2002.
  • The evening of celebration presided over by the Minister of Culture, Handicrafts and Tourism will now be held on May 16, 2002, at the "Centre International de Conférences" in Cotonou.

Bhutan

A reception was held by the Head of Government and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers on the evening of April 26, 2002, for foreign dignitaries, government officials and the community of artists and scientists. During the reception speeches were given on the importance of intellectual property in Bhutan and the promotion of protection of rights, and the message of the Director General of WIPO was read out in full. The following activities also took place at the reception:

(i) A musical and dance program was staged by well-known local musicians and performers.

(ii) The winners of an essay competition on intellectual property, held to mark World IP Day, were announced in the junior, middle and senior categories, and were awarded prizes and certificates issued by the Head of Government and the Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The event was broadcast on television by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service and published in the Kuensel newspaper.

WIPO information and presentation videos on World IP Day were broadcast by the Bhutan Broadcasting Service.

WIPO materials were distributed for use by Government officials and the international community.

China

The year 2002 is the 20 th Anniversary of China's Trademark Law. A 90-minute special feature "Click on Trademarks" was broadcast by China Central Television on April 25, 26, 29 - 30, 2002, in which the message of the Director General of WIPO was read out.

Chinese newspapers carried special coverage of the intellectual property system, focusing on trademarks, patents and copyright.

Theme activities were organized in Beijing, Shanghai and some of the provincial capital cities in China; on-site consultations were available and promotional materials were displayed in city squares or in downtown streets throughout China.

Talk shows on intellectual property and artistic performances to celebrate World IP Day were hosted by some local television stations.

Special counters for publications on the intellectual property system were set up in various bookstores in Beijing and some other cities.

Colombia

A seminar was held in April 2002, together with a Book Fair. At the closing ceremony several WIPO films and other films prepared by the Colombian Directorate General for Copyright on the fight against piracy were screened, and the message of the Director General of WIPO was extensively quoted. The seminar received both television and newspaper coverage.

Croatia

The WIPO presentation video "Encouraging Creativity" is to be broadcast on national television with the insertion of suitable comments in the Croatian language.

Cuba

World Intellectual Property Day will be celebrated between April 23 - 26, 2002, when the first Congress on Intellectual Property will take place in Havana, under the auspices of the Cuban Industrial Property Office and WIPO.

To mark the occasion, an "Aula Internacional" or training center will be inaugurated, for teachers of industrial property throughout Latin America. Also, two WIPO gold medals will be awarded to two Cuban inventors who have had a great socio-economic impact. In addition, there will be a meeting of specialists in industrial property from all over the country.

These activities will be publicized by the media, in both oral and written form.

Cuba - Centro Nacional de Derecho de Autor (CENDA)

The celebration of World IP Day took place from April 23 - 26. Before and during it, there was ample media coverage for the promotion of the event, on both radio and television, with the participation of experts from CENDA.

April 23:

The celebration was inaugurated in the "Sala de Arte Universal" of the Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, with Vice-Minister Luis Felipe Vasquez presiding, and with the participation of the Ministry of Culture, as well as of the Directors and Presidents of the institutions cooperating with CENDA, and the staff of CENDA. The forthcoming seminar on copyright (see below) was launched, and CENDA's website was shown. Finally, all those present were invited to a guided tour of the "Sala de Arte Universal", which had recently been restored.

Two lawyers from CENDA gave presentations at the agency "Prensa Latina".

April 24 and 25:

A Seminar on copyright was held at the International Press Center in Havana, in which specialists from CENDA developed various themes of interest to creators and users. On the evening of April 25, there was an event at the Mella theatre, where a month to celebrate dance was being held during this period.

April 26:

All those who had in any way participated in these activities were invited to a Gala at the Amadeo Roldán theatre, with the cooperation of the "Centro National de Música de Concierto", where the pianist, Gabriell Urgel, and the Guitar Orchestra of the Maestro Dr. Jesús Ortega performed, and where the poet Pablo Armando Fernández read from his works.

CENDA had decided to hold a celebration annually from April 23 - 26, and is also preparing for its own 25 th anniversary on February 21, 2003.

Denmark

An article on intellectual property rights with the theme "Encouraging Creativity" will be published in the Danish Patent and Trademark Office's electronic newsletter.

Estonia

A seminar entitled "Have Boldness to Create and Protect New Trademarks and Technical Solutions" will be held by the Estonian Patent Office, in collaboration with the Estonian Association of Patent Attorneys, the Estonian National Working Group of AIPPI and the Estonian Ministry of Culture, on April 26, 2002, at the Hotel Olümpia. Attendance of the seminar is free of charge.

The topics to be discussed at the seminar will be patent policy, protection of inventions, creativity and intellectual property, the achievements and aims of the Estonian Customs services in IP, trends in drafting legislation, copyright and piracy, ten years of registration of trademarks in Estonia, the rights and obligations of the owner of a trademark, the possible results of the use of an unregistered trademark, the role of the Estonian Patent Library, and the work of AIPPI.

The Estonian Patent Office published 3 booklets explaining how to validly protect inventions and trademarks in Estonia and other countries.

A seminar was organized by the Ministry of Culture together with the Law Institute on copyright, entitled "Do Estonian Authors Have Their Own Rights?" In the evening a free concert was held on the Vabaduse Square in Tallinn, which lasted for 2 hours and featured Estonian pop musicians Erich Krieger, Nightlight Duo, Tõnu Trubetsky, Carin and Jüri Homenja, and Marko Mägi who recited poetry.

The celebration of World IP Day was widely reported on in the media, with interviews being given on both television and radio.

Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO)

Greetings from Prof. Dr. Victor Blinnikov, President of the EAPO will be published on the EAPO Website: http://www.eapo.org, to innovators, patent offices and its staff, particularly to patent offices of the States party to the Eurasian Patent Convention.

A meeting with the Eurasian patent attorneys is be held at the EAPO Headquarters in Moscow on April 26, 2002

European Coordination of Independent Producers (CEPI)/
Co-ordination Européenne des Producteurs Indépendants

A letter highlighting the celebration of World Intellectual Property Day is to be sent to their 17 member associations on April 26, 2002, together with a reminder of the importance of intellectual property rights, especially of copyright for the development of the independent production sector. WIPO information materials on all aspects of intellectual property, particularly in respect of copyright, will also be distributed.

Fiji

Activities relating to intellectual property are to be held from April 26 - May 26, 2002, to create awareness amongst stakeholders and members of the public. The message of the Director General of WIPO will be published, as well as related articles, in a newspaper supplement.

Fiji's celebration of World IP Day was reported on in the local press in Suva. Two articles were published: one was largely devoted to the Regionally Focused Action Plan (RFAP), and the second dealt with the problems with the Fijian trade mark system, the draft intellectual property legislation under preparation, and the aims of the RFAP to improve in general the intellectual property situation.

Finland

A national poster has been prepared by the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, which will be displayed in their information center and at regional service points.

An announcement of the forthcoming event has been published on the website of the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland, http://www.prh.fi, and an information bulletin relating to World IP Day has been distributed to the media.

The theme of World IP Day "Encouraging Creativity" will be used in all information and on all occasions this year for the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland.

Georgia

Information on World IP Day was published on the National Intellectual Property Center's internet website: http://www.sakpatenti.org.ge

A translated version of the WIPO publication "Intellectual Property Reading Material" was distributed free of charge to universities and institutes, technical libraries, and other governmental and non-governmental agencies.

World IP Day information was published in the central newspaper of Georgia.

Germany

The WIPO message "Encouraging Creativity" will be published on the German Patent and Trade Mark Office's Website: http://www.dpma.de (links: "Neu/News" and "Aktuelles/ Information").

Ghana

A workshop with the theme "Encouraging Creativity" is to be organized jointly by the United Nations Information Center in Accra, and the Registrar General and Copyright Office of Ghana, and will be held at the British Council Hall on April 26, 2002. Presentations will be given by the Copyright Administrator of Ghana, and the Director of the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The WIPO statement will be read by the UN Resident Coordinator and a keynote address will be given by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. A performance based on the workshop's theme will be given by a group of artists.

Haiti

Under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, the Haitian Copyright Bureau has drawn up the following program of information to celebrate World IP Day:

  • Musical Rights and Creative Development on April 22, 2002.
  • Collective Management and Electronic Management of the Rights, at the Kreyolololo Center on April 23, 2002.
  • Copyright and Related Rights in the Audiovisual Field, at the Forum Eldorado on April 24, 2002.
  • Copyright and the Protection of the Plastic Arts, at the Musée du Panthéon National of Haïti (MUPANAH), on April 25, 2002.

On April 26, 2002, the following activities are to be held:

  • Deposit of a law on copyright and related rights;
  • a conference on the role of copyright in cultural development;
  • exhibition of posters on intellectual property;
  • possible launching of a program on copyright.

Hungary

The celebration of World IP Day has the motto "encouragement of the hungarica", creative activity in the field of intellectual property originating from or related to Hungary.

  • A celebration will be held on April 26, 2002, from 3 p.m. at the Károlyi Palace in Budapest, where the President of the Hungarian Patent Office, the Secretary General of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, and the President of the Hungarian Publishers' and Booksellers' Association will be speakers. The Millennial prize of the Hungarian Patent Office will be presented to representatives of institutions and organizations active in the field of intellectual property.
  • A presentation of a multimedia CD on science, technology and art, a common publication of the Museum of Photography of Kecskemét and the Hungarian Patent Office will be given, and copies of the CD will be distributed to all participants of the event.
  • A concert by the dulcimer players, Ágnes Szakály and Rózsa Farkas, will take place, and copies of the CD of the concert will be distributed to those present.
  • An exhibition of photos and ex libris labels of contemporary Hungarian writers is to be held, and will be opened with an address by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Applied Arts. Prizes will be awarded to the most successful creators in the exhibition.
  • A regional travelling exhibition on wine trademarks is to be held jointly by the Hungarian Patent Office and the Austrian Patent Office on April 25, 2002 in Eisenstadt, Austria, and on May 2, 2002 in Györ, Hungary. Posters of the exhibition, showing the close connection between wine production and industrial property protection tools, will be displayed, as well as WIPO information material on World Intellectual Property Day.

India

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), on the occasion of its Diamond Jubilee, has announced on April 26, 2002, the Diamond Jubilee Invention Award for School Children, with advertisements appearing in various national and local daily newspapers. There will be 60 prizes in the form of cash and certificates.

India - Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.)

A round table discussion was organized by Dr. Sudhir K. Jain, Coordinator of the IPR Cell and Entrepreneurship Program of the I.I.T. on "Encouraging Creativity" and "Protection of Intellectual Property Rights" on April 26, 2002.

The discussion was inaugurated by the Director of the I.I.T., Prof. R. S. Sirohi. Speakers were IPR attorneys, Mr. Pravin Anand and Mrs. Pratibha Singh, and senior professors of I.I.T., Prof. S.K. Guha, Prof. M.L. Gulrajani and Prof. S.K. Jain. These speakers covered subjects such as the importance of creativity and its relationship to intellectual property rights, ways of utilizing them for economic prosperity, the issue of patenting software in the USA, Europe and India and its consequences, experiences of patenting and technology transfer during the past 25 years, and examples of utility goods, which had great scope for improvement and patenting.

Mrs. Bela Banerjee, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of HRD informed the participants on the initiatives of the Government of India in the promotion of IP research and teaching, including the establishment of the IPR Chair Professorships, and read out the message of the Director General of WIPO for IP Day.

Dr. A. K. Sengupta, Managing Director of the Foundation of Innovation of Technology Transfer, emphasized the need for relevance of research to industry and for change in norms for peer level recognition.

Faculty members and students were also present at the discussion and participated effectively. The program ended with the conclusion that there should be a clear model of IPR education and training in all I.I.T.s and engineering colleges in India, aiming at producing technological research of practical use to society.

Indonesia

The following activities will take place, all in Jakarta:

  • A WIPO seminar is to be held on Copyright Enforcement, on April 25, 2002.
  • An exhibition on Intellectual Property is to be held which will include the display of WIPO posters and publications, from April 24 - 26, 2002.
  • A WIPO Creativity Medal plus a cash prize of US $1,000 is to be awarded on April 26, 2002.
  • As Advisory Mission on Copyright and Related Rights is to be present from April 23 - 24, 2002.
  • A TV talk show is to be held by the Intellectual Property Office.

International Publishers Association (IPA)

A press release on World IP Day has been sent to IPA members, giving information about WIPO, the background of IP Day itself, this year's theme, WIPO materials prepared for the day, including the message of the Director General and posters and publications included in the "kit", and also on the WIPO internet website where all country activities appear. Information on the IPA itself is included, together with the Association's website address: http://www.ipa-uie.org

Iran

At the opening ceremony of the WIPO Asian Regional Workshop on Technology Management and Commercialization of Inventions and Research Results, to be held in Tehran from April 22 - 25, 2002, the significance of World Intellectual Property Day is to be mentioned along with the reading of the message of WIPO's Director General. WIPO posters on IP Day will be exhibited at the Workshop.

Ireland

WIPO posters relating to World IP Day will be displayed in the public offices of the Irish Patents Office and patent and trade mark agent firms.

The message of the Director General of WIPO together with a general note on intellectual property will be published on the Irish Patents Office and Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment websites: http://www.entemp.ie and http://patentsoffice.ie.

Letters issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and Patents Office from April 22 - May 3, 2002, and will be franked "World Intellectual Property Day 26 April, Encouraging Creativity, See http://www.patentsoffice.ie".

Italy

The Ministero per i Beni e le Attivita Culturali will be putting special emphasis on youth programs in respect of intellectual property. Campaigns in schools to raise awareness of the importance of a culture of legality and of the fight against piracy will be organized.

The Ministero delle Attivita Produttive marked as follows World IP Day 2002 on April 26:

  • An announcement was made on a prize to be awarded for a thesis on the subject of innovative technologies for the environment, referring to patent documentation; the prize will be named after Giulio Natta, whose centenary of birth and 40 th anniversary of the award of the Nobel prize for chemistry will be celebrated in 2003.
  • A press release was distributed to announce the above-mentioned prize and the first Master's degree in intellectual property, with the collaboration of the Istituto Tagliacarne and the Ministry of Education, to begin in June 2002.
  • The message of the Director General of WIPO was translated into Italian.
  • A poster and postcard were issued, incorporating words from the message of the Director General of WIPO.
  • A small exhibition was held, showing 10 authors' chairs, which were presented as the top ten at the International Exhibition

Jamaica

A special intellectual property feature is to appear in Jamaica's daily newspaper "The Observer" together with information on the recent official visit of the Director General of WIPO.

Staff members of the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) along with private and public sector interest groups are to be interviewed on intellectual property in various radio and television programmes on April 26, 2002.

The JIPO is to organize an exhibition and an open day of appreciation for Jamaica's creators, clients and the general public.

The WIPO presentation video "Encouraging Creativity" is to be broadcast on national television.

Kazakhstan

The message of the Director General of WIPO was read out on national radio on April 26, 2002.

Kenya

The WIPO presentation video "Encouraging Creativity" is to be broadcast on television from April 22 - 26, 2002. In addition the following activities are scheduled to take place from April 24 - 26, 2002:

  • There will be a drama production by this year's winners of the National Drama Festival.
  • Music and poetry will be heard from schools preparing for the National Music Festival later in the year.
  • A technological exhibition is to be held,- displaying works of the winners of last year's National Students' Congress on Science and Technology.
  • A symposium will take place, featuring papers on "Encouraging Creativity" reflecting various parts of the national socio-economic spectrum.
  • Boy scouts will participate in a procession carrying placards appropriate for the Day's theme.

Kyrgyz Republic

A biennial competition to reward several categories of people (most distinguished, women, youth) in the field of inventive activities will be reviewed on World IP Day. The award-giving falls in 2003, and to celebrate IP Day, information on the progress of that Competition so far will be disseminated.

The following activities were/are to be organized under the auspices of the State Agency of Science and Intellectual Property under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic:

Seminars:

  • "The Problems of Intellectual Property Protection", for the sectoral Scientific Research Institution of medical, agrarian and technical directions, was held on April 5, 2002, by the Department of Science.
  • "Intellectual Property and Innovation", for national inventors, is to be held on April 23, 2002, by the State Center of Innovative Technologies "Tabylga".
  • "Legal Protection in Fields of Intellectual Property", for specialists of the Office of the Public Prosecutor in Bishkek is to be held on April 13, 2002, by the Department of Law.
  • "Fight against Audio Video Piracy and Illegal Use of Trademarks", for specialists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is to be held on April 17, 2002, by the Center of Collective Management of Authors' Economical Rights (CCMAER).
  • "Inspiring Creativity", with a slogan competition connected with this theme, for students of the American University of Kyrgyzstan is to be held on April 24, 2002, by Kyrgyzpatent representatives.
  • A conference on the practical scientific aspects of intellectual property is to be held on April 26, 2002.

Exhibitions during April 2002:

  • Intellectual property in Kyrgyzstan, by the State Patent Technical Library;
  • Normative - legal provisions in the field of legal protection of intellectual property, by the State Patent Technical Library;
  • Inventions and Economical Development, by the State Patent Technical Library;

Competitions:

  • A competition on the best article and the best slogans in the field of intellectual property is to be held by April 20, 2002, by Kyrgyzpatent and the Editing Publishing Center.
  • A technical creative works competition with the theme of "Intellectuals of the XXI Century" was held from March 26 - 29, 2002, by the State Fund of Intellectual Property.
  • Awards will be given to the best students benefiting from stipends for 2001, during April 2002, by Kyrgyzpatent.
  • An international artistic exhibition and competition was held on April 10, 2002 by the State Fund of Intellectual Property.

Other Activities:

  • Two-week courses for the Academy of Ministry of Internal Affairs specialists, for the improvement of their qualifications, are available in April 2002, at the Training Research Center.
  • A Round Table for publishing organizations and editorials in papers and magazines was held on April 11, 2002 by the CCMAER.
  • Published instructions for the applicants of industrial property rights will be made available by April 12, 2002, by the Center of Expertise and the Editing Publishing Center.
  • The second edition of "Inventors of the Kyrgyz Republic" will be released on April 12, 2002, by the Department of Information.
  • Other activities are to be held, dedicated to the "Day of the Book" and "Author's Rights" in April 2002, organized by the CCMAER.

Lithuania

  • IP Day information to be presented at the State Patent Bureau, the Lithuanian Technical Library and the Ministry of Culture.
  • Poster for the 80 th Anniversary of the Register of Trademarks to be displayed in public areas.
  • Exhibition to be held at the Lithuanian Technical Library.
  • WIPO Publication on Small and Medium Enterprises to be translated into Lithuanian.
  • Awards ceremony to be held for the 10 most popular Lithuanian composers by the Lithuanian Copyright Society (LATGA).
  • Conference to be held at the Ministry of Culture, where publications on copyright protection, achievements, issues and prospects of copyright and neighboring rights law will be presented.
  • WIPO video on IP with Lithuanian subtitles to be on local television.

Malawi

A public lecture is to be held at the Chancellor College, University of Malawi, emphasizing the theme "Encouraging Creativity".

Editorials and feature articles are to be published in the daily papers on the importance of the intellectual property system. The statement of the Director General will also be published in the daily newspapers.

Malaysia

The Asian Patent Attorneys Association - Malaysian Group will be holding, jointly with the Malaysian Intellectual Property Association (MIPA) and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, a National Conference on the theme "Recent Developments In Intellectual Property: The Impact on Developing Economies", from March 26 - 27, 2002 in Kuala Lumpur.

Malta

A seminar raising awareness on the protection of intellectual property products is to be organized by the Industrial Property Registration Directorate, under the Commerce Division of the Government of Malta, for students participating in the Young Enterprise HSBC Company Programme: these students are training to develop and put products on the market. Also, WIPO materials for World IP Day will be displayed in the Commerce Division as well as at the seminar.

Mauritania

A ceremony was presided over jointly by the Ministry of Mines and Industry and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Orientation on April 26, 2002. The message of the Director General of WIPO was introduced by representatives of both Ministries and presentations were made by representatives of the Association of Inventors and Innovators of Mauritania and by the Association of Writers and Poets of Mauritania. A WIPO film entitled "Creating the Future Today" as well as other films relating to intellectual property were broadcast.

Mauritius

The message of the Director General of WIPO is to be published in the press and broadcast on television and radio.

The WIPO presentation video "Encouraging Creativity" is to be publicized.

Mongolia

An Invention Fair is to be held on April 26, 2002, during which a WIPO Gold Medal for Outstanding Inventors is to be awarded.

The following activities were organized by the Intellectual Property Office of Mongolia to celebrate World Intellectual Property Day 2002:

  • The "National Technology - 2002" Exhibition was held from April 8 - 12, 2002. During the exhibition special prizes were awarded to three companies for their contribution in the development of national enterprises and technology and "The Best Inventor" medal was awarded to J. Dashdavaa. A seminar entitled "The Role of Intellectual Property" was conducted during the exhibition.
  • A workshop entitled "Infringement of Intellectual Property Rights" was held for government officials on April 22, 2002.
  • A workshop entitled "Legal Regulation of Intellectual Property Protection" was held for students of the institutes and universities in Mongolia on April 23, 2002.
  • A seminar on "Copyright Collective Administration Organization" was held for creators of literary and artistic works on April 24, 2002.
  • A training session was held for owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises entitled "The Role of Trade Marks" on April 25, 2002.
  • A meeting and consultation period was held for the general public who were interested in intellectual property issues on April 26, 2002.
  • A competition was held for students of law institutes in Mongolia entitled "Protection of Intellectual Property" on April 26, 2002.
  • An exhibition entitled "Trademarks: Business Reputation" was held from April 23 - 26, 2002. Two awards were presented at the exhibition, "The Best Inventor" medal, and a "WIPO Gold Medal" which was awarded to Jamyan Jijig.

Morocco

An open day was held by the Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (OMPIC) on April 26, 2002, to inform stakeholders and the general public of the advantages offered by the intellectual property system to encourage innovation and creation.

A registration form for the open day was published on OMPIC's internet website, from which a positive response was received, with many visitors from different sectors being present. The message of the Director General of WIPO was read out by a WIPO representative, and presentations prepared especially for World IP Day explained OMPIC's role in reinforcing the industrial property system in Morocco, as well as the action it has taken to improve its services to stakeholders.

Namibia

Materials showing the Tenth SACD Art and Crafts Festival held at the National Arts Gallery of Namibia in Windhoek in 2000 were exhibited. Among them were a video on the festival activities, a publication containing speeches given in the workshop, a CD-ROM, a catalogue of art works, and a website for the National Arts Gallery.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, the Ministry of Basic Education, Culture and Sport and the Ministry of Trade and Industry issued jointly a press statement on World Intellectual Property Day.

Nepal

On the morning of April 26, 2002, the Ministry for Industry, Commerce and Supplies delivered a live message highlighting the importance of World IP Day and intellectual property rights on Radio Nepal.

A ceremonial program organized jointly by the Department of Industries and Nepal Chamber of Commerce was held in Kathmandu on April 26, 2002, in which the Director General of the Department of Industries explained the importance of World IP Day and activities related to intellectual property development during the past year.

The WIPO presentation video "Encouraging Creativity" was broadcast by Nepal Television.

An interaction program with the theme "Intellectual Property and Protection and Utilization of Bio-diversity" was held on April 30, 2002: the theme paper was presented by a representative of the Council of Ayurvedic Medicine. Approximately 60 people, consisting of persons from concerned agencies, lawyers and journalists participated in the program, as well as the Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, the Director General of the Department of Industries, and the Chairman of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce.

A seminar organized by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on copyright and related rights was held in Kathmandu on May 2, 2002.

Various news reports and articles were published and broadcast by most of the media on World IP Day and intellectual property-related matters.

New Zealand

The following activities are to be organized by the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ):

  • Competitions are to be held, for example, an essay competition for tertiary institutions and a short story/poetry competition for secondary schools. Prizes worth NZ$ 2,000 have been donated by the New Zealand Institute of Patent Attorneys.
  • An open day is to be held at the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) in Lower Hutt.
  • A Seminar entitled "Protect Your Ideas" is to be held at the Massey and Victoria Universities.
  • A press release is to be issued by the Associate Minister of Commerce, Laila Harré, on Intellectual Property and World IP Day.

Norway

An exhibition on intellectual property will be held in the library at the Norwegian Patent Office, where WIPO information material will also be displayed.

Staff of the Norwegian Patent Office will be given a speech on WIPO.

There is a notice on World IP Day, with a link to WIPO's website, on the Norwegian Patent Office's internet website: http://www.patentstyret.no

Pakistan

A presentation was organized by the Ministry of Industries and Production where officers of various ministries, institutions and University students were present. The Chief Research Officer spoke on the basics of intellectual property rights, WIPO, TRIPS, intellectual property legislation in Pakistan and the importance of intellectual property rights in the economic and industrial development of Pakistan, and a discussion/question and answer session followed. WIPO information material distributed for World IP Day, including the CD-ROM and the Message of the Director General of WIPO were displayed, and pamphlets were distributed.

An essay competition for college students with the subject "Importance of Intellectual Property Rights in Our Daily Life" was held, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and Production presented certificates to the students of winning essays.

A function was organized by the Pakistan Intellectual Property Rights Association (PIPRA) on intellectual property at Karachi, which was attended by a large number of serving and retired High Court Judges, lawyers, businessmen and industrialists.

WIPO information pamphlets and the CD-ROM prepared for World IP Day were presented to the Press Information Department for coverage in the press and on the internet.

Paraguay

The materials sent by WIPO were displayed by the Directorate of Industrial Property on its premises.

The law firm Berkemeyer in Asuncion celebrated the Day on April 26, by holding a Workshop which was opened by the President of the Paraguayan Association of Industrial Property Agents. The themes developed in the Workshop, with the help of distinguished panelists, were the Nice Classification, the cancellation of registered marks for the reason of failure to use them, health questions in registration, and copyright and related rights.

Permanent Observer Mission of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to the United Nations Office

His Excellency Ambassador Amadou Tidjane HANE, Permanent Observer of the OIC to the United Nations Office in Geneva and Mr. Jafar Olia, Deputy Permanent Observer, will represent the Organization for the celebration of World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2002 at the Seventh Session of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, from May 13 - 17, 2002, which will be held at WIPO, Geneva .

Peru (The National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI))

IP Day will be celebrated from April 22 - 28, with the main activities on April 25, when authors and composers will receive recognition, and the VII th National Competition for Inventors will be launched.

During the whole week there will be informative talks and media diffusion (including radio, internet and a press conference) on themes of intellectual property.

The "Cámera Peruana del Libro" will be displaying posters and leaflets on the theme throughout the week. There will also be exhibitions of works related to the theme, and activities centered around piracy, notably a seminar for the police force, with the participation of the "Cámera Peruana del Libro", on the impact of piracy on the publishing industry.

Buses will be circulating in various areas, in order to distribute information on intellectual property to the public.

The relevant Indecopi website page is: http:// www.indecopi.gob.pe.

Portugal

The National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has announced the forthcoming World Intellectual Property Day on 26 April, 2002 with the theme of "Encouraging Creativity" together with information on WIPO on their internet website: http:// www.inpi.pt and also in the press.

Republic of Korea

A WIPO Regional Training Course is to be held for Intellectual Property Instructors and Trainers.

Republic of Moldova

Workshops on intellectual property related issues were held from April 2 - 9, 2002 for students and pupils in the main cities of the country.

A specialized seminar on the importance of the protection of industrial property is to be organized in collaboration with the Medical University of Moldova.

The 6th Edition of the Annual International Symposium "AGEPI Readings" will be made available from April 24 - 25, 2002.

A leaflet entitled "The Republic of Moldova's Outstanding Inventors" is to be published.

A press conference marking the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day is to be held on April 22, 2002.

A TV Talk Show on intellectual property issues is to be held on April 25, 2002, with participation from representatives of the State Agency on Industrial Property Protection (AGEPI), the State Agency on Copyright and Related Rights (ADA), the High Council for Science and Technological Development, and the Civil Association of Inventors and Rationalizers.

An Official Ceremony, with the motto "Encouraging Creativity" dedicated to World IP Day, is to be held on April 26, 2002.

Romania

A press conference was held on April 24, 2002 at the Headquarters of the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks, at which representatives of daily newspapers and television stations in Bucharest were present.

The regional activities were as follows:

  • The Regional Centre in Constanta organized a seminar on "Valuation, Evaluation and Protection of Inventions" on April 12, 2002, where the message of the Director General of WIPO was read, and articles and news commentaries were disseminated by five local newspapers and the Canal 57 Plus TV channel.
  • The Regional Centre in Bistrita organized a seminar, in the framework of the annual exhibition EXPODOMUS, on the "Protection and Valuation of Industrial Property" on April 17, 2002, in which the message of the Director General of WIPO was read, and broadcast during the newsreel of the Tele 7 abc-Bristrita TV Station.
  • The Regional Centre in Baia Mare organized a seminar on "Protection of Intellectual Property in Europe" for small- and medium-sized businesses which was held on April 25, 2002.
  • A meeting with the students of the University of Craiova was held with discussions on "Intellectual Property - its Place and Role in Engineering and for SMEs" on April 25, 2002.
  • A round-table discussion was held at the headquarters of the Centre in Craiova with the Inventors' Society of Oltenia.
  • A meeting was held at the headquarters of the Regional Centre in Bihor on specific intellectual property issues on April 26, 2002, where the films "Protection of Industrial Property in Romania" and "Protecting your Trademark Abroad - Madrid Protocol" were presented.
  • Numerous press releases, information materials and editorials, featuring World IP Day, have appeared in some 38 local newspapers.
  • In the week April 22 - 26, the film "Protection of Industrial Property in Romania" and the WIPO spot, "Encouraging Creativity", were broadcast by at least 16 local TV stations.

Russian Federation

The Russian Agency for Patents and Trademarks (ROSPATENT) had proposed to the governmental authorities, that the date of the Russian Federation's National Holiday, "The Day of the Inventor", be changed to that of World Intellectual Property Day on April 26.

Samoa

A training awareness programme for small businesses will be held on April 26, 2002, where the message of the Director General of WIPO will be read out.

Singapore

The month of April this year coincides with the 1st anniversary of the status of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore as a statutory board. This and World Intellectual Property Day will be celebrated as follows:

  • Workshops and seminars covering different aspects of Intellectual Property are to be held between 4 - 21 April 2002 at Heeren. Further information on these events can be found on website: http://www.ipos.gov.sg/hip/coe/Calendar.htm
  • A "HIP Alliance" campaign consisting of an entertaining activities weekend, including a mini poster exhibition incorporating WIPO's "At Home with Invention", is to be held from 20 - 21 April 2002 in Heeren.
  • A Celebratory Concert is to be held at Downtown East, Pasir Ris on April 26, 2002.

Sri Lanka

  • A WIPO national seminar is to be held on the Internet, Electronic Commerce and Intellectual Property.
  • A national seminar is to be held for scientists on Intellectual Property.
  • Messages from the Minister of Commerce of Sri Lanka and the Director General of WIPO are to be broadcast in news bulletins on the national TV stations and to be published in some national newspapers.
  • The Director General of WIPO's message is to be translated and sent to approximately 500 Young Inventors' Clubs all over the country.

Thailand

A nationwide invention competition was organized under the National Intellectual Property Promotion and Development Project.

Press releases announcing the significance of World IP Day were issued to both electronic media and the press.

The Motion Picture Association (Europe, Middle East and Africa Office)

A two-day conference is to be held for the Directors of the Association's national programs on anti-piracy issues and strategies, in Lisbon from April 25 - 26, 2002. WIPO information materials will be used at the conference to highlight the importance of World Intellectual Property Day and to emphasize the Association's participation in a wider international effort to protect and defend intellectual property rights.

Trinidad and Tobago

A Motivational Session for staff of the Intellectual Property Office will be held on April 22, 2002.

A discussion on Illegal Photocopying with representatives of CANCOPY and JAMCOPY will be held on the morning on April 23, 2002.

A Workshop on Collective Management is to be held on the afternoon of April 23, 2002.

The Honorable Minister will be meeting with representatives of the Cable Company and the Special Advisor on April 24, 2002, for a discussion on Compulsory Licensing.

A discussion on Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights will be held on the morning on April 25, 2002.

An exhibition on intellectual property will be open to the public on April 26, 2002. Several intellectual property related competitions will be take place on the same day.

The WIPO presentation, "Creating the Future Today", is to be broadcast on local television during the week commencing April 22, 2002. Discussions on television and radio on intellectual property issues will also be broadcast.

WIPO materials will be distributed in the country.

Turkey

The Turkish Patent Institute will participate in a joint meeting for Turkish businessmen from all over the world called the "Turkish Businessmen's Assembly", is to be held in Istanbul from April 24 - 27, 2002. The President of the Institute will speak on the importance of World Intellectual Property Day and the significance of intellectual property rights. The Institute will also set up a stand.

The message of the Director General of WIPO will be published on the Turkish Patent Institute Website: http://www.turkpatent.gov.tr, in Turkish and English.

An information note on the importance of World Intellectual Property Day and the Turkish Patent Institute will be prepared. In connection with this an eight-page addition is to be published in the national daily economics newspaper "Dünya Gazetesi" on April 26, 2002.

Ukraine

A conference entitled "The Status and Further Development of the System of Intellectual Property Legal Protection" is to be held in Kyiv on April 26, 2002. The winners of the National Competition "Invention 2001" will be presented their awards at the conference, including WIPO medals for the Best Ukrainian Inventors of the Year 2001.

A Seminar on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights for Judges and Enforcement Agencies of Ukraine will be held from April 22 - 23, 2002, organized by the Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights, in cooperation with WIPO, the State Department of Intellectual Property of Ukraine and the High Economic Court of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Association of Intellectual Property will organize activities in all regions with the cooperation of the Regional Centers of Scientific, Technical and Economic Information.

The Second Ukrainian Conference entitled "The Issues of Training of the Intellectual Property Specialists in Ukraine" will be held from April 23 - 24, 2002.

In the interests of scientific and technological creativity, the State Department of Intellectual Property will contribute to the participation of the winners of the Ukrainian competitions "Invention 2000" and "Invention 2001" in the Geneva Exhibition of Inventions to be held in May 2002.

The Ukrainian Competition "Invention 2002" will be announced.

WIPO's information on World Intellectual Property Day will be published in the magazine "Intellectual Property" and forwarded to organizations and scientific institutions involved in intellectual property. WIPO information materials in general will be disseminated to celebrate the Day.

United States of America

The United States Patent and Trademark Office, in cooperation with the United States Copyright Office is holding "The Copyright Conference" on domestic and international copyright and related issues, on April 25 - 26, 2002 at the Academy for Educational Development Conference Center in Washington D.C.

The conference will feature current topics such as Implementation of the WIPO Copyright and Performances and Phonograms Treaties, End User Issues, Perspectives on International Enforcement, Folklore Issues, Broadcasting and Webcasting Issues, Audiovisual Issues and the pending "Eldred" Case. Participation in this conference by U.S governmental participants, academia, foreign governmental offices, industry, trade associations and international organizations is anticipated. There are no attendance charges, and admission will be on the basis of those who register earliest.

Further information on the above activities can be found on the US Copyright Office Internet Website: http://www.uspto.gov.

University of Neuchâtel

A conference on on-line publishing and copyright law is to be held at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland for both students and practitioners on April 26, 2002. WIPO information materials will be distributed to participants and World Intellectual Property Day will also be discussed at the conference.

Further information on this event can be found on website: http://www.unine.ch/droit/2c_crs_modules_ete_2002.htm

Uruguay

On April 26, the Minister for Industry, Energy and Mining convened a press conference to explain the reasons for the celebration of World IP Day, and the importance of intellectual property to policies for national development. He also announced measures such as a draft law to exonerate from patent fees any works selected for the exhibition "EUREKA, Innovation, Science and Technology to Create the Future", and a Decree to Revalidate Patents invalidated through non-payment of annual fees.

The National Directorate of Industrial Property announced its own plans to the public, such as the constitution of a database on case law in industrial property, and a collection of documentation on patents and trademarks in electronic form. It also presented and distributed various publications, among them the "Industrial Property Bulletin" in colour, a CD-ROM of issues of these Bulletins from numbers 1 to 30, a Guide on applications for patents and industrial designs, and a CD-ROM on the industrial property legislation in force in four languages (Spanish, English, French and Portuguese).

These activities received good coverage in the written press, and on radio and television. The material sent by WIPO for the occasion was also used. In addition, the Directorate arranged for the diffusion of the WIPO video on "Encouraging Creativity" by the television channel TVEO, together with a video about the Directorate's work.

Uzbekistan

Competitions are to be held for two categories of intellectual property, those of best inventor and best programmer of Uzbekistan.

A meeting is to be held for the oldest inventors and selectors who have contributed the most to the development of invention in Uzbekistan.

All information of activities to be held, and competition results will be available on the State Patent Office's website: http://www.patent.uz.

Yugoslavia

The Federal Intellectual Property Office and the Museum of Nikola Tesla promoted on April 26, 2002, the "Diary from Strasbourg" by Nikola Tesla, his still unpublished manuscript of 1883.

Special articles on achievements in the field of science, culture and art and also on the importance of intellectual property for the development of science and civilization were published in the newspapers and other media.

An essay competition was held for pupils from primary and secondary schools and awards will be presented to the winners. There was a choice of three topics, which were (i) How Has Nikola Tesla Improved the World, (ii) The Purpose of Creativity in Times of Poverty, and (iii) What I Consider the Greatest Human Invention.

The 22 nd Exhibition of Inventions will take place in Belgrade, from May 20 - 24, 2002.

An Exhibition of Inventions and Creativity of the Young will take place under the title "Tesla Fest" in Novi Sad, from October 12 - 16, 2002. It is anticipated that a WIPO medal will be presented for the best invention at the exhibition.

Zimbabwe Association of Inventors

A reception will be hosted in conjunction with the Ministry of Higher Education and Technology on April 25, 2002, at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) which runs from April 23 - 28. Speeches will be given by the Minister of Higher Education and Technology, and by the Association's President on behalf of the Inventors.

A celebratory march is to be held on May 11, 2002, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, in which 70 schoolchildren aged between 10 and fifteen years, accompanied by 70 drum majorettes, an Army Signals band and up to 30 inventors wearing World Intellectual Property Day t-shirts and carrying banners and placards, will march through the streets of Harare. The march will end at the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office, where there will be speeches, and lunch and refreshments will be provided. This event will be broadcast on national television. The Association will be making a donation to the development funds of the participating schools, and also to the development of science/technical design clubs.

A concert, where 4 gospel bands will perform, will take place on April 27, 2002, to entertain participants and raise awareness of intellectual property through this publicity.

Following closely on this will be an All African Inventors Co-ordination Conference in Harare, from June 10 - 11, 2002.

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