Heads of intellectual property (IP) academies and training and research institutes from across the globe meeting in Beijing under the umbrella of the Global Network on Intellectual Property Academies (GNIPA) on May 8 and 9, 2008, agreed to intensify efforts to strengthen collaboration between particpating institutes, to promote the development of effective IP training programs for diverse target groups and to galvanize support for the Network. The Symposium, hosted by the State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO) discussed, a number of key issues relating to IP education, training and research. The first such Symposium was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in March 2007 and the next Symposium will be hosted by the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2009.
The Coordination Committee of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) nominated Mr. Francis Gurry, a national of Australia, to become the next Director General of WIPO. The candidate will have to be appointed by the WIPO General Assembly at its next meeting, which is scheduled from September 22 to 30, 2008.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reinforced its cooperation with the Republic of Ghana with the signing on May 7, 2008 of an intellectual property (IP) development plan which aims to build the country’s capacity to create, protect and utilize IP as a power tool for economic growth and development. The IP Development Plan also seeks to ensure that the IP offices and potential users of the IP system - such as universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), chambers of commerce and industry, research and development institutions and copyright organizations - have the technical capacity to use the intellectual property system. The agreement was signed, on behalf of the Republic of Ghana, by H.E. Joe Ghartey, Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
This year’s World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, 2008 focuses on celebrating innovation and promoting respect for intellectual property (IP). In his message to mark the eighth World IP Day, Dr. Kamil Idris, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), highlights the intrinsic link between creativity, innovation and IP. Dr. Idris pays tribute to inventors around the world who have driven technological advances and enriched our collective cultural heritage.
Sao Tome and Principe became the 139th contracting state of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) when it deposited its instrument of accession at WIPO on April 3, 2008. The Treaty will enter into force for Sao Tome and Principe on July 3, 2008.
As part of its efforts related to the protection of intangible cultural heritage, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has partnered with the Permanent Mission of Indonesia in Geneva, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG) to support a performance of the Wayang Shadow Puppet Theatre, an exquisite portrayal of Indonesia’s living heritage.
The fifteen candidates for the post of Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) met with representatives of member states on April 14, 2008, each outlining his or her respective platform and responding to pre-submitted questions from the different regional groups. The Chairperson of the Coordination Committee - following informal consultations last month with representatives of the 83 member body that will nominate a candidate in May for appointment to this position by the WIPO General Assembly in September 2008 - decided on arrangements for the one day informal meeting to give an opportunity for candidates to present themselves and respond to questions.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) signed this week separate cooperation agreements with two leading educational institutions in Mexico – the Technological Institute of Monterrey and the University of Guadalajara – to advance the teaching of intellectual property.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presented two awards at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions on April 4, 2008, as part of the Organization’s commitment to promoting recognition of inventors worldwide.
A one-day meeting of an extraordinary session of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Assemblies on March 31, 2008 ended with agreement to adopt the Organization’s program and budget for 2008/09, as well as a 5% decrease in fees paid for international patent applications.