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WIPO & Private Sector Forge New Relationship: Industry Advisory Commission Wraps up Inaugural Meeting

Geneva, February 5, 1999
Press Releases PR/1999/156

The inaugural session of the Industry Advisory Commission (IAC), chaired by Dr. Kamil Idris, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), ended on Friday with participants heralding the two-day meeting as the beginning of a new partnership between WIPO and the private sector.

The IAC, which brought together some 20 high-level representatives of industry under the auspices of WIPO, met in Geneva on February 4 and 5, 1999. In the course of those discussions members of the IAC made the following points:

All members of the IAC welcomed the initiative of the Director General of WIPO to open a broader dialogue with industry. It was felt that this was particularly important because industry benefits most directly from intellectual property protection. In addition, the challenges that industry faces due to globalization and rapid developments in technology directly affect and are affected by intellectual property.

  • Due to the emergence and rapid rise of the digital economy, existing business models and economic concepts - including in the field of intellectual property - have to be continually reviewed, revised or restated.
  • It is widely recognized that the world is shifting towards a knowledge-based economy. Intellectual property captures value in knowledge. Intellectual property can be used as a mechanism to bridge the gap between developed and developing economies.
  • More work needs to be done to improve understanding of intellectual property and its role in development, particularly by the general public. This work must be approached with sensitivity to local needs and conditions.
  • The cost of obtaining and enforcing intellectual property rights - in particular in respect of patents - is a large and growing problem. Cost reduction through harmonized systems of protection and, possibly, global titles of protection, was discussed.

The founding members of the IAC thanked the Director General of WIPO for undertaking this initiative and for reaching out to the private sector. One participant said the meeting was an "outstanding first step", noting that the Commission members "appreciate that now we are being heard." Another member said she appreciated the Director General's effort "to bring the voice of the industry to WIPO."

The views of the IAC will be presented to the member States of WIPO in September during the annual meeting of the Organization's Assemblies. The Commission will meet again later this year. Dr. Idris said discussions on the Commission's recommendations will also be held with other private sector partners.

The agenda of the meeting was divided into three parts. The first covered electronic commerce, a multi-billion dollar industry that has become a subject of major economic and policy importance. The second item related to "Intellectual Property and Wealth Creation". The last theme dealt with "Managing Change at the International Level".

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

Tel: (+41 22) 338 8161 or 338 95 47
Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10
E-Mail: publicinf@wipo.int

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