WIPO Director General Underlines Need to Enhance Use of IP for Wealth Creation & Development

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, called on member states on Wednesday to continue to build on progress made by the Organization to ensure that the intellectual property (IP) system fully contributes to wealth creation and the socio‑economic development of all nations. This came at the close of a general debate by the WIPO General Assembly on the results-based Program Performance Report of the Organization for 2006. The meetings of WIPO Assemblies are taking place from September 24 to October 3, 2007. 

 

In a general debate on WIPO Program Performance Report for 2006 (https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/govbody/en/a_43/a_43_2.doc) member states reviewed the Organization's activities in the past year and referred among other issues to WIPO’s activities in the areas of IP capacity-building, the WIPO development agenda, the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional expressions of folklore as well as work on patent law, copyright law, and enforcement. The member states also referred to budget and oversight matters in their statements.  Many member states expressed appreciation for WIPO's wide range of technical and legal assistance and welcomed progress achieved in various areas of its work.

 

WIPO’s Program Performance Reports are submitted to member states within the context of the Organization’s results-based management framework introduced in 1998. The reports inform member states of results achieved by WIPO along the criteria established in its program and budget.

 

At the close of the general debate, Dr. Idris expressed deep appreciation for the “acknowledgement [by member states] for the important work being done by the Organization to strengthen the intellectual property system and to ensure that it fully contributes to the socio-economic development of all nations.” The Director General referred to the many measures taken by the Organization to meet the needs and expectations of member states. These included measures to enhance the accountability and transparency of the Organization such as the adoption of a strategic, results-based program and budget, the strengthening of existing and creation of new oversight mechanisms and the comprehensive involvement of member states in the work of the Organization. 

 

Dr. Idris referred in particular to the “major breakthrough” achieved in the work of a development agenda for WIPO, which had resulted in “a landmark agreement on 45 proposals which we shall now seek to implement.” He also noted the progress in the work of other WIPO bodies, especially the Intergovernmental Committee on IP and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC).

 

On WIPO’s Advisory Committee on Enforcement, the Director General said it had contributed in a significant manner to a clarification and deeper understanding of enforcement issues, noting the work of this body “needs to be continued and reinforced.” He also pointed to initiatives to increase awareness of the benefits offered by the IP system and empowering policy-makers to effectively guide the evolution and growth of the IP systems.

 

In relation to WIPO’s IP services – of which the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the Madrid system for the international registration of trademarks are the largest - Dr. Idris referred to the “notable progress” which had been made in enhancing these services. He said, “We have made major efficiency gains in the operations of these treaties. As a result, PCT international filing fees have decreased by a third since 1998 for a typical application, while international fees for applicants from least developed countries have been reduced by 75 per cent. The efficiency gains have not only resulted in decreased costs, but also contributed to an unprecedented increase in the use of the PCT and Madrid system.”

 

Dr. Idris said that advances in the field of international IP-standards have resulted in the steady growth of the Organization’s treaty structure, noting this has “expanded in a process of adaptation to the new technical realities of the time.” 

 

The Director General said “we must build on these achievements … we must enhance the relevance and effectiveness of development-related activities; intensify efforts to forge consensus, and make further progress in the area of norm-setting; enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the global protection services and further strengthen the administrative systems of the Organization.”

 

The Director General urged member states to give clear direction to the IGC to intensify progress towards an effective protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. He further called on member states to “impart fresh vigor” to discussions on substantive patent law, and show “renewed determination” with regard to the work of the Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR).

 

Documents relating to the Assemblies are available at https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=12803.