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WIPO Director General Opens Industry Advisory Commission

Geneva, February 4, 1999
Press Releases PR/1999/154

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, opened on Thursday, the inaugural meeting of the Industry Advisory Commission (IAC) by calling for a "stronger, more meaningful relationship" between WIPO and one of its main constituents, the market sector. Dr. Idris urged the IAC to share with WIPO their vision of the future of intellectual property.

The IAC, which was established as part of the Director General's efforts to take into consideration the broadest range of opinions in the context of policy-making and medium-term planning, will discuss the implications for intellectual property of rapid changes in their industries in a two-day meeting that opened on February 4, 1999.

While pointing out that representatives of industry, usually through non-governmental organizations, have participated in some of WIPO's meetings, the Organization has lacked a way for the private sector to directly express its needs and interests.

Dr. Idris said the first meeting of the IAC marked "an historic shift in the policy of this Organization and in the vision which we would like to have for this universal body". He said the Commission will "ensure that, in particular, our norm-setting activities and the global protection systems will meet with the interests and needs of your respective institutions, industry and the market sector interests".

"You have a free forum to speak and exchange views with us to give us advice on how best we may be able to implement our program of activities," the Director General told the IAC's founding members. He said the two-day meeting will help WIPO "to gain a better and methodical understanding of ways in which industry could best work with WIPO in order to realize our vision and materialize our program of activities for all countries, all peoples and all nations."

Dr. Idris emphasized the importance of the forum for governments, the private sector, and WIPO. He said without this dialogue it is difficult, if not impossible, for WIPO to continue to be relevant to industry, which are the main users of WIPO's services.

The members of the IAC thanked the Director General for his initiative in convening the meeting and reaching out to the business community. They noted the importance of a dialogue between industry and policy-makers in light of the rapid technological changes that have a direct impact on intellectual property issues, in particular, the transition from a conventional economy to a digital economy. One member pointed out that in this new digital age, intellectual property needs to be "revisited, re-understood, reinvestigated and its fundamental concepts need to be updated." WIPO has a significant role to play in overseeing a smooth transition to the digital age in areas related to intellectual property. One member said, "WIPO has a tremendous challenge ahead of it."

The Chairperson of the WIPO General Assembly and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Ms. Sheila Batchelor, also congratulated the Director General on his initiative. She said Dr. Idris has a vision of strategically repositioning WIPO as we move into the next millennium so it becomes a relevant, modern institution both for the member States and ultimately those it serves, namely the private sector. She welcomed the Director General's efforts "to put the client at the center," noting, "I know how important it is to have direct contact with those that we serve and I look forward to today and tomorrow as the beginning of a new dynamic between WIPO and the market interests that we serve, which is you, our clients."

Dr. Idris wrapped up the opening session by emphasizing the need for a stronger and meaningful dialogue between WIPO and the users of its services, namely the private sector and industry. He said "the establishment of the Commission is a step in the right direction." Extensive changes in business models, economies and technology will have a strong impact on the global intellectual property system. He said WIPO "has an important and serious responsibility to follow-up in a structured manner all these changes." It is also important to reconsider time-honored ways of approaching the norm-setting activities of the Organization so as to cope with rapid and evolving technological and economic changes in the world. Dr. Idris also underlined that the intellectual property system at large and its tools can be used as instruments for economic growth and wealth creation. The intellectual property system, he said, creates many opportunities in all countries of the world. Dr. Idris pointed out that the intellectual property system is a critical component in the so-called digital economy. "So we are no longer only talking about capital, land, labor as basic components of economy...but a leading component, that is intellectual property. And if we move on in this direction I think the demystification of all these issues will be clear in the minds of the people and policy-makers."

The Commission has brought together some 20 senior representatives of industry. It seeks to identify and review issues that may need to be dealt with by WIPO from the specific perspective of industry and the market sector.

The agenda of the meeting is divided into three parts. The first relates to electronic commerce, a multi-billion dollar industry that has become a subject of major economic and policy importance. Intellectual property issues are of central importance in maintaining a stable and positive environment for the continuing development of electronic commerce. The second item relates to "Intellectual Property and Wealth Creation". Intellectual property plays a positive and central role in creating jobs by attracting investments of both capital and knowledge assets. The last theme to be dealt with is "Managing Change at the International Level". The business people will give their insight on ways policy-makers can keep up with rapid technological changes.

The Director General invited the industry representatives in their personal capacity. Geographical distribution was taken into consideration in the choice of the members, as was the need to have a broad range of industries represented. The IAC will enhance the Secretariat's capacity to monitor and respond in a timely, informed, and effective manner, to the demands of the market sector and of users of intellectual property systems.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

Tel: (41 22) 338 81 61 or 338 95 47
Fax: (41 22) 338 88 10
E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int

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