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WIPO Director General Meets Italy's Minister of Productive Activities

Geneva, May 13, 2004
Press Releases PR/2004/385

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, met on Thursday, May 13, 2004 in Venice, with Italy's Minister of Productive Activities, Mr. Antonio Marzano to discuss a number of issues of mutual interest. The meeting reaffirmed the strategic importance of intellectual property to development and wealth creation.

Dr. Idris thanked the Italian Government for its continued support of WIPO's activities, in particular, the important role that Italy has played in the development of a special program at WIPO that is dedicated to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Mr. Marzano recalled the importance of the SMEs sector to the Italian economy.

The Director General thanked the Government of Italy for offering to host the forthcoming WIPO World Symposium on Geographical Indications in Italy in 2005. Preparations for this meeting are underway and a venue will be decided shortly.

Dr. Idris and Minister Marzano agreed that cooperation between WIPO and Italy is excellent and they pledged to work even more closely to promote awareness of intellectual property around the world. Italy has already hosted several international conferences on various intellectual property issues, including the Milan Forum on Intellectual Property and SMEs in 2001 which launched a plan of action in support of SMES and an international conference on intellectual property and SMEs in the textile sector in Prato in 2003.

Minister Marzano assured Dr. Idris of both his personal commitment and his Government's commitment to promoting intellectual property. Dr. Idris said he looked forward to working closer with Italy to make the vision of intellectual property for development a reality.

As Minister, Mr. Marzano has succeeded in consolidating all relevant Italian intellectual property legislation into one code. In July 2003, special intellectual property courts were established in 12 Italian cities, the Italian Patent and Trademark Office has been fully automated, a public awareness campaign against piracy and counterfeiting has been launched and more effective enforcement measures are being implemented.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the WIPO-Italy International Conference on Design on May 13-14, 2004. This is the first major international event on designs since entry into force of the Geneva Act.

On the eve of the Conference, Dr. Idris was presented with the first Venice Award for Intellectual Property" by the Mayor of Venice in recognition of his global leadership and efforts to enhance international respect for intellectual property.

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
  • Email: publicinf@wipo.int.
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