WIPO Director General Wraps up Visit to Norway

Geneva, May 20, 1999
Press Updates UPD/1999/61

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in collaboration with Norway's Patentstyret (Industrial Property and Patent Office), will undertake a study to examine the use of the intellectual property system by small and medium-size enterprises. This was a key outcome of Dr. Kamil Idris', WIPO Director General, visit to Oslo on May 19, 1999.

The plan to examine the impact of the intellectual property system on small and medium-size firms was discussed during a meeting between Dr. Idris and Mr. Lars Sponheim, Minister of Trade and Industry. Many of Norway's businesses fit into this category, which also employs a large workforce and generates a significant part of the country's gross domestic product. Dr. Idris explained how the international registration systems that are administered by WIPO, like the Patent Cooperation Treaty and the Madrid and Hague systems, can help small and medium enterprises receive important technological information. The impact of the WIPO Global Information Technology Network (WIPONet) on small and medium-size firms was also reviewed and how this will become an important source of patent information. WIPONet will provide these companies with strategic information on the availability of state-of-the-art technologies. Also, the Director General pointed out that WIPO treaties can support companies in protecting their technology.

Dr. Idris underlined that the results of such a study would not only benefit Norwegian companies, but could also be adjusted to meet the needs of developing countries. WIPO officials will travel to Oslo in mid-June to meet with representatives of the government as well as the private sector to work out the details of this program.

The talks also covered the possibility of cooperation between WIPO and the government of Norway for establishing a training program for officials from developing countries. The program for officials involved in the registration and management side of industrial property offices would be implemented under the auspices of WIPO's Worldwide Academy. The WIPO Worldwide Academy will discuss the details of this program in mid-June in Oslo.

At a meeting at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs with State Secretary Leiv Lunde, Dr. Idris discussed several issues relating to general reform of the United Nations system. Emphasis was placed on the importance of increasing efficiency of the system to generate a proportional increase in the relevance of the system as a whole. Talks also covered implementation of the TRIPS agreement (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property) by developing countries. Developing countries must comply with the provisions of the TRIPS agreement by January 2000. So far, 131 developing countries have benefited from WIPO's technical and legal assistance in this area.

Dr. Idris and Mr. Lunde also discussed the importance of intellectual property for the development of biotechnology and the relationship to biodiversity. They agreed on the importance of biotechnology and biodiversity as instruments for improving food security and health conditions, as well as preserving the environment.

The Director General also addressed a gathering of some 250 representatives of the Norwegian business community on the regional and international challenges of protecting innovations, trademarks and industrial designs in the 21^st century. In an hour-long statement, he reviewed the importance of intellectual property in the digital and knowledge based economies of the new millennium. Dr. Idris addressed issues dealing with collective leadership, relations between an inter-governmental organization and the private sector, and the need to devise a strategy to associate intellectual property with the needs of the people.

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