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WIPO General Assemblies Wrap up

Geneva, October 3, 2000
Press Releases PR/2000/243

The Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) wrapped up on Tuesday following a review of the Organization's activities over the past year. The member states also took a number of important decisions relating to WIPO's future work.

The decisions taken by member states in their meetings from September 25 to October 3, 2000 included the following:

PCT

For the fourth consecutive year, member states approved reductions in the filing fees for international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). As of January 1, 2001, an applicant seeking protection for his invention in more than six countries or regions will benefit from a fee reduction of up to 17%. Since 1998, PCT fees have been lowered for all applicants. For applicants using the most common filing strategy, the average fee reduction over the same period will have reached 42% by January 2001.

Member states also decided to set up a special body to consider proposals for reform of the PCT, including those already presented to the PCT Assembly by the United States of America and any others to be submitted within the next few months. The PCT reform will address, in particular, issues such as simplification of the PCT filing and processing procedures, reduction of costs, reduction of duplication of work in search and examination procedures. The special body, whose members will be designated by the Director General in consultation with member states taking due consideration of the need for geographical balance is asked to report to the September 2001 session of the PCT Assembly and make recommendations for those proposals which should be dealt with in the short term. The special body's mandate includes consideration of other key issues to be addressed after completion of the first step.

Member states also took note of progress in the PCT automation project. The 40 million Swiss francs project, known by the acronym IMPACT (Information Management for the PAtent Cooperation Treaty), is the largest single information technology project ever undertaken by WIPO and its success is of the highest priority for the Organization. The rapid expansion of the PCT system - with an average growth rate of almost 20% per year over the last ten years culminating in an expected 90,000 filings in 2000 - shows the importance of this project to the intellectual property community. Automation of the PCT would mean lower costs for applicants who will also benefit from more efficient services. WIPO aims to complete the project by 2003.

Global Issues

The Assembly created a special body to probe the links between intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and folklore. The first meeting of this inter-governmental committee will be held in Spring 2001.

The work of the intergovernmental committee will focus on three primary themes: intellectual property issues that arise in the context of (i) access to genetic resources and benefit sharing; (ii) protection of traditional knowledge, whether or not associated with those resources; and (iii) the protection of expressions of folklore. The committee is open to all 175 WIPO member states. Relevant intergovernmental organizations and accredited regional non-governmental organizations will also be invited to attend as observers.

SMEs

Member states approved a proposal by the secretariat to launch a special program of activities to promote wider use of the intellectual property system by small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The aim is to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs worldwide and to help them better exploit their niche positions, including via electronic commerce.

Domain Names

Member states reviewed WIPO's work in the field of Internet domain names and intellectual property and noted the success of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center in providing on-line resolution of Internet domain name disputes.

Member states also noted with satisfaction the progress of work on a second series of broad-based consultations to address certain domain name and related intellectual property issues where continuing concern and uncertainty remains, such as bad faith, abusive, misleading or unfair use of personal names and geographical indications (see WIPO Press Release PR 2000/235).

New Logo

Member states agreed to the creation of a new WIPO logo which will better symbolize the Organization as dynamic, innovative, open and effective. The new logo will be chosen following an international competition which will be launched in 2001.

World Intellectual Property Day

April 26 - the date marking the entry into force of the WIPO Convention - has been designated as World Intellectual Property Day. Each year this day will be observed by WIPO and its member states through various activities. The Day will serve as a special occasion to heighten public awareness about the role and contribution of intellectual property in the economic, cultural and social development of all countries.

Trademark Licenses

Member states adopted a joint recommendation designed to simplify and harmonize procedures relating to the recordal of trademark licenses. The recommendation was adopted after three years of deliberations by experts from WIPO's member states.

The adoption of international resolutions is part of WIPO's policy to adapt to rapid changes in the field of industrial property by considering new options to speed up the development of internationally harmonized principles and rules and complements the traditional and more lengthy treaty-based approach to international standard-setting.

The Joint Recommendation Concerning Trademark Licenses consists of a series of guidelines which set out a maximum list of indications and elements that may be required by national or regional authorities with respect to a request for recordal or for cancellation or amendment of the recordal of a license. Many countries require the recordal of trademark licenses with a government authority and such requirements, which vary from country to country, may impose heavy burdens on trademark owners and licensees thereby hindering the development of international trade.

The Joint Recommendation complements the Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) through the simplification and harmonization of trademark licensing procedures. It is foreseen that the provisions contained in this Joint Recommendation will be reconsidered, at a later date, in the context of a comprehensive revision of the TLT.

Last year, member states adopted a Joint Recommendation on the Protection of Well-Known Marks intended to clarify, consolidate and supplement the existing international protection of well-known marks. The recommendation establishes specific criteria for the definition of well-known marks and sets out conditions to determine whether a mark is well-known or not within a member state.

World Intellectual Property Declaration

Member states took note of the World Intellectual Property Declaration, adopted earlier this year by the WIPO Policy Advisory Commission (PAC). The Declaration, which seeks to expand awareness about the universal value of intellectual property, was presented by PAC Chairman Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan.

The Declaration affirms the universal relevance of intellectual property in today's knowledge-based societies. It highlights the importance of strategies to enhance global cooperation in implementing and further developing the intellectual property system for the benefit of all. Moreover, the Declaration recommends the implementation of a wide range of activities designed to promote public awareness, dissemination of value-added intellectual property information and better international registration services. It also outlines measures to promote effective use of intellectual property and protect cultural diversity and identity.

Program and Budget

Member states approved proposals which will streamline the budgetary and financial operations of the Organization. This should, in turn, lead to simpler and clearer procedures and greater transparency and accountability of the regular budgeting process.

Constitutional Reform

Member states took a decisive first step in simplifying the unwieldy legal and decision-making structure of WIPO governing bodies which have evolved over the Organization's more than 100 years of existence. This first step effectively eliminated five governing bodies reducing the total number from 21 to 16. Discussions on further reform will continue among member states.

Premises

Member states were informed about the progress of work in respect of two building projects. The first relates to the former World Meteorological Organization (WMO) building. Renovation is targeted for completion in September 2002, with the creation of 450 work places, a cafeteria for 300 people and 144 parking places. Work on the construction of a new office building with 500 work places and a conference room for 600 delegates is targeted to begin in October 2001 and to be completed in mid-2004.

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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