WIPO Director General Takes Part in Centenary Celebrations of the Austrian Patent Office
Geneva, April 27, 1999
Press Updates UPD/1999/54
The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, took part on April 22, 1999, in a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Austrian Patent Office, in the presence of the President of the Republic, H.E. Thomas Klestil and the Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Hannes Farnleitner. In a speech, Dr. Idris lauded the achievements of the Austrian Patent Office over the past century, saying the institution has "been at the forefront of international cooperation in the protection of international intellectual property rights."
"More than a century ago, the city of Vienna saw the foundation of some of the vital pillars on which the modern intellectual property system is based," Dr. Idris stated. He said the decision by the Austrian government in 1873 to offer protection to inventors exhibiting their creations at the Vienna World Exhibition set in motion a process that culminated in the adoption of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, a key intellectual property treaty.
The Director General also pointed out that "Among Austria's many contributions to the enhancement of intellectual property protection, the Austrian Patent Office played a most significant role in the creation of the Vienna Agreement Establishing an International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks."
Dr. Idris outlined the major challenges facing the international intellectual property community at the threshold of the new millennium, a time marked by rapid technological changes and increasing economic globalization. In this new environment, intellectual property assets will be a key element.
Demystification of intellectual property information, or the creation of a wider basis of knowledge of the importance of intellectual property as a tool for economic, development and wealth creation, topped the list of challenges identified by the Director General as the world enters a new millennium. Transformation of work methods and simplification of regulations also needs to be addressed. Dr. Idris further pointed out the challenge of stabilization, which entails providing inventors with a solid administrative infrastructure that will allow protection for inventors at the national level. Disseminating technological information, a move that will facilitate the transfer and development of technology, will also be high on the international intellectual property agenda in the next century. Finally, the Director General identified the challenge of "globalization without marginalization." He said works of the mind should be available to all peoples, communities and nations regardless of the level of development.
Austria became a member of WIPO in 1973 and is currently party to twelve treaties administered by WIPO, among which are the Paris Convention (1909), Berne Convention (1920), Patent Cooperation Treaty (1979) and Madrid Agreement (Marks) (1909). The Austrian Patent Office is a major partner in WIPO's program of International Cooperation in Search and Examination of Inventions and has assisted a considerable number of countries in deciding whether or not to seek patent protection for an invention. Since 1979, the Austrian Patent Office has also been a competent International Searching and Preliminary Examining Authority for the receiving Offices of most of the developing countries party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:
Tel: (+41 22) 338 98 24 or (+41 22) 338 81 61
Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10
E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int